Design critic thumbnail

Sep 27, 2024

Sep 27, 2024

How to Handle Design Critique Like a Pro

How to Handle Design Critique Like a Pro

design-tips-and-tricks

design-tips-and-tricks

Design critic thumbnail

Sep 27, 2024

How to Handle Design Critique Like a Pro

design-tips-and-tricks

How to Accept Feedback and Improve Your Design Skills

How to Accept Feedback and Improve Your Design Skills

Receiving feedback may be a hard pill to take in, especially after putting so much time and work into your creations. When you hear comments like "This doesn't work," it might be discouraging. However, it’s important to remember that feedback is not your enemy; it is a stepping stone on the path to greatness. Accepting feedback can open your mind and is essential for becoming not just a good designer, but a great one. In this blog, we'll look at how to properly use feedback to improve your designs.

How to handle design critique thumbnail
How to handle design critique thumbnail

Why Critique Is Not Your Enemy

Critique is often wrongly compared with criticism. This, however, is very wrong since critique is actually about enhancing your work rather than bringing it down. Think of a mirror: it reveals the things that need to be improved and your strengths too.

Reasons to Love Critique

  • Discovery of Blind Spots: Other people can often see things that you miss because you are too close to your work.

  • Ability Development: Constructive feedback pushes you to develop and enhance your abilities.

  • Improved Outcomes: Input from others ensures that your design or project reaches its highest potential.

Adopt the Right Mindset for Feedback

Feedback can feel personal, but design isn't. In order to actually learn from criticism, you must learn to approach it with an open mind.

Steps to Cultivate an Open Mindset:

  1. Don't React Immediately: Refrain from defending your design. Instead, breathe and process the criticism calmly.

  2. Listen Actively: Hear what is being said as well as why it's being said. Sometimes the feedback points to something that you may not have noticed.

  3. Ask Clarifying Questions: If you’re unclear about a comment, seek more details. Understanding the “why” behind the critique can make it actionable.

  4. Avoid Perfectionism: Focus on learning and improving rather than striving for an unattainable ideal.

"Be not perfect but learn."

Remember, you're not your design.

It's easy to misinterpret criticism of your design as criticism of you. However, it is critical to differentiate work from identity. When someone criticizes your design, they are attempting to assist the project succeed, not questioning your skills.

“Design feedback is about improving the project, not judging the designer."

Turning Feedback into Action

Receiving feedback is only the first step. What you do with it defines the way you grow.

How to Respond to Feedback Effectively:

  • Sort the feedback: Separate actionable suggestions from subjective opinions. Not every feedback will be applicable, and that's okay.

  • Prioritize Changes: Concentrate on the changes that will have the most influence on your design.


  • Experiment: Test out the proposed adjustments. You might learn about fresh strategies or perspectives that you hadn't considered.


  • Reflect and iterate: After adopting changes, evaluate the outcomes. Have they improved your design? If not, don't be afraid to revise your work.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Notion or Trello to organize feedback and track your revisions.

Bravery in Exposure

Admitting that your work isn't perfect requires a lot of confidence. Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. It means being open to improvement, which encourages learning and progress.

Why Vulnerability Matters:

  • For Authenticity: People can relate to your sharing process, including mistakes.

  • It Promotes Connections: People like honesty and are more willing to interact with your work.


  • Encourages Collaboration: Being open to criticism allows others to see opportunities, which typically leads to the best results.

True creativity grows in imperfection.

Feedback Is Your Superpower

Designers who actively seek feedback develop faster than those who ignore it. Why? Because feedback encourages constant improvement..

Think of feedback as your design GPS:

  • It shows you where your talents excel.

  • It identifies places that require correction.

  • It keeps you on track to success.

The Human Aspect of Design Criticism

Behind every piece of criticism is a person who dedicated their time to guiding you through your work. When such inputs are reflected, their exposures, knowledge, and genuine desire for your success will be revealed.

Convert Criticism into Discussion:

  • It is best to think of feedback as a conversation rather than an argument.

  • Appreciate the time and effort spent on reviewing your work.


  • Be open to suggestions, yet remain true to your vision.

Tip: Network and build connections with others through feedback sessions. Use tools such as Zoom or Slack to facilitate such interactions.

Actionable Tips for Handling Feedback

Here’s a quick checklist to help you make the most of feedback:

Keep Objectified: Concentrate on the design rather than your ego.

Take Notes: Write down every feedback for later reference.

Test Changes: Try out the recommended improvements.

Seek Diverse Opinions: Get feedback from different people for a well-rounded perspective.

Follow Up: Send the redesigned work and ask for more feedback.

Last Thoughts: Accept the Process

Because feedback is an essential component of learning and should not be feared, it is not a requirement for creativity in and of itself. Every piece of feedback has a lesson that can be implemented into practice.

In order to move closer to the improvement, take a moment to listen when the following critique discusses your work. Undoubtedly, one may believe that they are improving as a designer, but they are also improving as a creative.

How do you handle design critique? Share your thoughts below! 👇

How to Accept Feedback and Improve Your Design Skills

Receiving feedback may be a hard pill to take in, especially after putting so much time and work into your creations. When you hear comments like "This doesn't work," it might be discouraging. However, it’s important to remember that feedback is not your enemy; it is a stepping stone on the path to greatness. Accepting feedback can open your mind and is essential for becoming not just a good designer, but a great one. In this blog, we'll look at how to properly use feedback to improve your designs.

How to handle design critique thumbnail

Why Critique Is Not Your Enemy

Critique is often wrongly compared with criticism. This, however, is very wrong since critique is actually about enhancing your work rather than bringing it down. Think of a mirror: it reveals the things that need to be improved and your strengths too.

Reasons to Love Critique

  • Discovery of Blind Spots: Other people can often see things that you miss because you are too close to your work.

  • Ability Development: Constructive feedback pushes you to develop and enhance your abilities.

  • Improved Outcomes: Input from others ensures that your design or project reaches its highest potential.

Adopt the Right Mindset for Feedback

Feedback can feel personal, but design isn't. In order to actually learn from criticism, you must learn to approach it with an open mind.

Steps to Cultivate an Open Mindset:

  1. Don't React Immediately: Refrain from defending your design. Instead, breathe and process the criticism calmly.

  2. Listen Actively: Hear what is being said as well as why it's being said. Sometimes the feedback points to something that you may not have noticed.

  3. Ask Clarifying Questions: If you’re unclear about a comment, seek more details. Understanding the “why” behind the critique can make it actionable.

  4. Avoid Perfectionism: Focus on learning and improving rather than striving for an unattainable ideal.

"Be not perfect but learn."

Remember, you're not your design.

It's easy to misinterpret criticism of your design as criticism of you. However, it is critical to differentiate work from identity. When someone criticizes your design, they are attempting to assist the project succeed, not questioning your skills.

“Design feedback is about improving the project, not judging the designer."

Turning Feedback into Action

Receiving feedback is only the first step. What you do with it defines the way you grow.

How to Respond to Feedback Effectively:

  • Sort the feedback: Separate actionable suggestions from subjective opinions. Not every feedback will be applicable, and that's okay.

  • Prioritize Changes: Concentrate on the changes that will have the most influence on your design.


  • Experiment: Test out the proposed adjustments. You might learn about fresh strategies or perspectives that you hadn't considered.


  • Reflect and iterate: After adopting changes, evaluate the outcomes. Have they improved your design? If not, don't be afraid to revise your work.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Notion or Trello to organize feedback and track your revisions.

Bravery in Exposure

Admitting that your work isn't perfect requires a lot of confidence. Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness. It means being open to improvement, which encourages learning and progress.

Why Vulnerability Matters:

  • For Authenticity: People can relate to your sharing process, including mistakes.

  • It Promotes Connections: People like honesty and are more willing to interact with your work.


  • Encourages Collaboration: Being open to criticism allows others to see opportunities, which typically leads to the best results.

True creativity grows in imperfection.

Feedback Is Your Superpower

Designers who actively seek feedback develop faster than those who ignore it. Why? Because feedback encourages constant improvement..

Think of feedback as your design GPS:

  • It shows you where your talents excel.

  • It identifies places that require correction.

  • It keeps you on track to success.

The Human Aspect of Design Criticism

Behind every piece of criticism is a person who dedicated their time to guiding you through your work. When such inputs are reflected, their exposures, knowledge, and genuine desire for your success will be revealed.

Convert Criticism into Discussion:

  • It is best to think of feedback as a conversation rather than an argument.

  • Appreciate the time and effort spent on reviewing your work.


  • Be open to suggestions, yet remain true to your vision.

Tip: Network and build connections with others through feedback sessions. Use tools such as Zoom or Slack to facilitate such interactions.

Actionable Tips for Handling Feedback

Here’s a quick checklist to help you make the most of feedback:

Keep Objectified: Concentrate on the design rather than your ego.

Take Notes: Write down every feedback for later reference.

Test Changes: Try out the recommended improvements.

Seek Diverse Opinions: Get feedback from different people for a well-rounded perspective.

Follow Up: Send the redesigned work and ask for more feedback.

Last Thoughts: Accept the Process

Because feedback is an essential component of learning and should not be feared, it is not a requirement for creativity in and of itself. Every piece of feedback has a lesson that can be implemented into practice.

In order to move closer to the improvement, take a moment to listen when the following critique discusses your work. Undoubtedly, one may believe that they are improving as a designer, but they are also improving as a creative.

How do you handle design critique? Share your thoughts below! 👇

Comments

Let’s craft designs
that stand out

Hit me up if you’re looking for a fast, reliable full stack-designer, can bring your vision to life.

Copyright © RaDeCreatives.com, 2024

Created by

Ram

Let’s craft designs
that stand out

Hit me up if you’re looking for a fast, reliable full stack-designer, can bring your vision to life.

Copyright © RaDeCreatives.com, 2024

Created by

Ram

Let’s craft designs
that stand out

Hit me up if you’re looking for a fast, reliable full stack-designer, can bring your vision to life.

Copyright © RaDeCreatives.com, 2024

Created by

Ram