How to give quality feedback to your graphic designer like a pro

Giving feedback is a big part of the design process. But it can be difficult to know how to give quality, constructive feedback. As a designer, I rely on good quality, honest (preferably constructive) criticism because like you, I would like to create the best artwork that meets your requirements and creative vision. So here's a little more about how to provide great feedback if you're a little unsure.

How to Provide Constructive Feedback
Giving feedback is an important skill for any professional regardless of their job role or position within a company. But many people feel awkward or afraid to give critical feedback. As a result, quality feedback is scarce and it can lead to tension between a client and supplier or a compromise on the end result. This is exactly the kind of situation I always hope to avoid and revel in building the kind of relationship with a client where we can both bounce ideas of each other for the best creative outcome.

What are the benefits of feedback?
Feedback is a valuable tool that can be used to both help and develop the relationship you have with your designer. Unless you're unfortunate enough to come across one of those designers who thing that their artwork is perfect, first time, every time (I'm not one of those). Providing feedback helps us better understand our craft and identify areas for improvement. Giving feedback can help both client and supplier strive to do better in the future, even if it's about something they don't want to hear. It also helps boost morale by making both parties feel valued, appreciated, and heard.

Examples of Good Feedback
There are many ways to give quality feedback. The most important thing is to be specific. For example, be specific about what you like about the artwork and what you do not. If you're able to offer a reason why as well, then this will remove any guesswork when we go to amend your artwork. If you're reviewing artwork after publication it is really helpful to give specific feedback about the things that could have been done better or differently or say something about how they could improve the next project. This is particularly important for digital marketing because you never really know how successful a campaign has been until the metrics and data are in.

What are the benefits to feedback?
Feedback is a critical component to any successful creative marketing project, whether you're working with team members inhouse or outsourcing to a designer such as myself. It can help managers gauge the performance of their team members or suppliers and it can also show co-workers that their opinions are valued. Feedback has been shown to improve employee engagement, which in turn improves organisational culture and decreases turnover rates.

Moral of the story
Feedback is a skill that we should all try to learn and perfect in order to build a great relationship with your designer. It's like the saying goes...it's not what you say...it's how you say it.