It can be challenging to align on design.
There isn’t always one right answer, and sometimes two people can have drastically different views.
For professional designers, it’s a delicate balancing act to listen and incorporate client feedback while also sharing valuable insights gathered from years of experience. Collaboratively and respectfully striking that balance is critical to the overall design process and the quality of the deliverable.
These concepts are not just in the minds of designers; they make up several of Makeway’s core values:
- Respectful: Regardless of the task at hand, we demonstrate daily the ability to think critically, convey ideas clearly, and problem-solve effectively. But do so with utmost respect and consideration to ourselves, other Makers, and our clients.
- Strategic: At the core of everything, we’re problem solvers. We design to meet the needs of our clients. And pen doesn’t touch paper until we’ve done our homework.
- Creative: We work to inspire others and ourselves. We approach each project with a ‘made-for-you’ mindset and a desire to push the limits of what we can achieve through design and development.
- Collaborative: Great work doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We work with clients and partners who want a seat at the creative table, who are willing to step out of their comfort zone, and who truly believe that good ideas can come from anywhere.
In this Designer Q&A, we ask three Makeway designers…
How do you handle feedback and critique on our design work? What strategies do you use to incorporate feedback effectively to make our clients happy while staying true to your design vision?
Greg Cunneyworth, Co-founder & Creative Director
At Makeway, we recognize the importance of critical feedback in the overall design process. We believe that enabling multiple individuals to contribute their perspectives fosters quality and innovative work. We value feedback from various internal teams, including design, project management, developers, and then ultimately, our clients.
Equally significant is a psychologically safe creative environment that empowers designers to explore. We prioritize creating a supportive atmosphere where designers can express their ideas, take risks, and push boundaries, knowing that their contributions will be respected and valued.
“We prioritize creating a supportive atmosphere where designers can express their ideas, take risks, and push boundaries.” – Greg
Cindy Phan, Digital Designer
We have feedback checkpoints built into our process. The design team meets regularly for show-and-tell style design reviews to critique each other’s work. We also utilize features like commenting in Figma, XD, or Pastel to give and receive feedback.
Trying to understand where the client is coming from helps with determining which direction to go in. This can mean asking more questions about how something doesn’t work or throwing some ideas out to gauge their reaction.
“Trying to understand where the client is coming from helps with determining which direction to go in.” – Cindy
Kelly Choi, Digital & Motion Graphics Designer
It’s important to stay positive and not take feedback personally. Sometimes research helps understand client expectations, and presenting multiple design options allows for exploring different ideas based on their feedback.
Collaboration and iteration are always important because I can involve clients throughout the process. I also try to educate clients about design principles when needed and prioritize feedback based on project goals to ensure a balance between client satisfaction and my design vision.
“I educate clients about design principles and prioritize feedback based on project goals to ensure a balance between client satisfaction and my design vision.” – Kelly
Constructively handling feedback and critique on design work is a big part of the job—for individual designers and for how we work as a team.
At Makeway, we not only take pride in delivering excellent work but also in being a great partner to our clients.
Check out the Makeway careers page if you’re a designer who thrives on feedback. Or, if you’re interested in connecting directly, you can reach out to [email protected].
Be sure to check out other installments of our Employee Q&A Series, including one on how designers can cultivate a creative mindset.
