5 Mistakes you can avoid while collecting Design Feedback

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Collecting web design feedback from clients can often turn out to be a tricky task. Everyone and anyone can have an opinion on design, but the most relevant feedback will only give you the best results.

It is easy enough to comment; however, giving out clear and constructive feedback is what matters in the end.

The most common mistake while inviting feedback is sharing the design too late in the project stage. All stakeholders must be asked to give their feedback in the early stages of the project.

In every web design process, there is a feedback stage which requires exhaustive interaction not only between co-workers but also with external clients. It is also important to avoid web design feedback mistakes.

This kind of interaction will obviously lead to improvement suggestions from both the sides.

Involving client in the early stages of design feedback will require you to guide them into giving valuable and usable feedback.

The best way to explain the same will require you to convince them that in order for the project to be a success, their feedback is immensely important.

Refining your feedback process will help you in gathering more constructive and useful commentary. At the end, you will be able to create a design that is clear, compelling as well as relevant to what was asked.

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Here are some of the common errors people make in asking the client for feedback.

1. Not setting a Feedback cycle: Setting a feedback cycle that works for both (agency and client) is quite relevant since several stakeholders are involved in one project.

There could be a lot more to do on a project apart from web designing and not keeping any set time for feedback will only lead to confusion among stakeholders along with disrupting the other tasks involved in a single project.

Setting a feedback cycle that is comfortable for you as well as your client will make things more streamlined.

After you have presented your design to the client, you can set a timeline by which the client needs to send feedback. The time frame could be 24-48 hours or more if several stakeholders are involved.

Simply asking for feedback as soon as your design work is not only unprofessional but also will be a waste of time as the client wouldn’t probably be around to give his/her feedback whenever asked.

This habit needs to be discouraged.

2. Not connecting the design to the actual business goal: So have made a fantastic design with all the right hues and aesthetics and everything is perfect according to your expertise and experience. But, the design actually serves no purpose or connection to the business of your client.

What will it lead to? Your answer is as good as mine when together we will say a big “NO”.

Nobody likes rejection, but the client is bound to reject your design and ask you to redo it when you will submit something which actually didn’t make sense in the first place.

This is a common error people make, jumping the gun and submitting the design to client for feedback without forethought.

You need to make sure that your design actually connects with the business goals of the client.

This way you will be able to garner constructive feedback which will be connected to the bottom line rather than simply discussing the typography.

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3. Getting feedback in an unstructured way: If there is no process for feedback collection, you might end up sitting in useless meetings wherein very generic and lengthy feedback is shared which is inconsistent.

When you will ask the client or even your colleagues for that matter for feedback, you will be given some extensive and unstructured feedback which will be filled with personal opinions, thoughts, and viewpoints that have little or nothing to do with the design’s business value.

Always keep the feedback process clear-cut and systematic without leaving room for ambiguity.

4. Not detailing issues in writing: In a professional relationship, it is always advisable to conduct all interactions and transactions in the written mode. At least, the ones which are meant for getting the project in the right direction.

You can also have a visual feedback service which will enable your client to give explicit feedback in a practical way without involving him or you to waste time in a meeting and point out all areas of the web design where changes are needed.

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Addressing big issues early and that too in writing will help you do a great job at your design will help you receive an explicit ok to move forward.

5. Not using any professional tool for getting feedback on design drafts: Making use of design collaboration tools can be a great replacement for emails or phone calls while you collect client feedback. Tools make your job easier and make it possible to collect in-depth feedback without wasting time on needless interaction.

Below are some of the tools that can be effectually utilized to collect feedback in a more constructive way:

• InVision App: InVision is a popular app for designers and developers which are used to collect feedback as well as collaborate on design drafts.
• Framebench: With the help of Framebench, you can easily manage your design files and also keep your design feedback on the right track. It also has a mailbox from which design feedbacks can be communicated.
• Red Pen: Another popular feedback tool that is simple and compact allows users to get feedback almost instantly.

A good design can be transformed into something better with the help of constructive feedback.

However, collecting and giving out feedback is a crucial phase of a project in which it is likely that people may take things personally.

By avoiding the above-mentioned mistakes and making use of some feedback/collaboration tools designers and project managers can reach a consensus and ensure an efficient and transparent feedback process.

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Best practices for collecting useful feedback

A diversity of opinions and feedbacks can help you in making your good design even better. Here are a few tips and tricks which will help you in collecting user feedback.

1. Although already mentioned, it is not enough to emphasize the relevance of project management tools in collaborating with the client. Feedback will be centralized as well as organized in this way and will help you make suitable revisions.

2. Too many options can often lead to confusion in the mind of the client and might overwhelm your reviewers; hence, it is advisable to limit the number of options which will help in extracting relevant feedback.

3. Providing some data while presenting your design will help you in getting your finest piece selected. Support your design decisions on the basis of user experience, site performance, and conversions etc. with the help of some usability tools. You can conduct this usability trial prior to submitting your final designs.

4. It will be great if you try to demonstrate website interaction with the help of your design choices. Create mockups with clickable links that will show how the site performs, how will people land at a particular page etc. Based on some demonstrated user experience, your client will be able to consider your designs at a different level altogether.

5. Give your client adequate opportunities to collaborate and to provide feedback at multiple intervals. Get regular feedback and approvals for wireframes and other small sections of the big design from the clients and make them have an ownership to the final product. This will make the client feel useful and welcome and might also give you a window to work together again.

Creating a great web design is not a Herculean task for a qualified and experienced web designer; however, the key lies in extracting the relevant amount of feedback from the client which helps your design to become the best they have ever seen.

Taking care of the usual mistakes and implementing the above tips can help you create one masterpiece after another.

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