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Learn about the different types of feedback you'll encounter as a designer.
Definitions
- Constructive criticism: Feedback that points out where improvements can be made. It's clear and easy to take action on, without being prescriptive.
- Non-constructive criticism: Feedback that doesn't help you improve your design to meet the goals of the project. This type of feedback can leave you confused, unsure, and feeling as if your professional skills are in question.
- Prescriptive feedback: Feedback that tells the designer what to do. It doesn't clearly articulate why your solution isn't achieving the project goal, thereby making it difficult to learn from and act on.
- Preferential feedback: Feedback which is just the opinion of the person providing the feedback, and doesn't represent the project's audience.
- Non-specific feedback: Feedback that leaves no clear path forward and leaves the designer to play a guessing game.
- Irrelevant feedback: Feedback that is not applicable to the project
- Untimely feedback: Feedback that is given without consideration of the project timeline.
- Selfish feedback: Feedback that twists the design solution to the critic's advantage and not serving the target end user.
- Off-topic feedback: Feedback that doesn't pertain to the project or your role in the project.
- Incomplete feedback: Feedback which lacks an explanation
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You'll encounter feedback in
a variety of mediums and styles.
0:00
In this video, we'll discuss the different
formats you'll receive feedback in and
0:04
the two types of feedback
you might receive.
0:09
Constructive, and non-constructive.
0:11
First, let's look at the three common
mediums used to deliver feedback.
0:14
In person, video calls and
the written word.
0:18
If possible,
you should request feedback in person.
0:21
In person discussions provide a full
sense of tone and body language, and
0:25
a more comprehensive understanding
of the person's opinion.
0:30
Video calls are also a great way to
get feedback as you can communicate
0:34
remotely while still being able to
see the person's facial reactions,
0:38
hear their tone of voice and
ask follow up questions.
0:43
Written feedback is very common.
0:47
It's a quick and easy way to give
feedback but it can be tricky.
0:49
Since it lacks auditory and
0:54
body language cues, it can come
across as more harsh than intended.
0:56
No matter the medium,
feedback falls into two main buckets,
1:01
constructive and non-constructive.
1:05
Constructive criticism is your friend.
1:08
This type of feedback helps
you grow as a designer.
1:11
Constructive criticism points out
where improvements can be made.
1:14
It's clear and easy to take action
on without being prescriptive.
1:19
It also focuses on the project's goals,
while paying attention to the context,
1:23
state and constraints.
1:28
The general tone is motivating and
helpful.
1:30
For example, awesome job
incorporating the brand colors and
1:33
the spot illustrations and buttons.
1:37
I love how the colors reinforce
the differences in the product offerings.
1:39
Another example is, if the goal of this
app is to make it quick and easy for
1:44
people to view nearby apartment rentals,
the onboarding feels a bit time consuming.
1:48
Can you think of a way to show
the apartments earlier in the experience?
1:54
The other type of feedback is
non constructive criticism which
1:58
does not help you improve the design and
to meet the goals of the project.
2:02
Often, this type of feedback can
leave you confused, unsure and
2:06
feeling as if your professional
skills are in question.
2:10
I'm gonna walk you through a few examples
of non constructive feedback and
2:15
why each example isn't helpful.
2:19
In a later video,
I'll teach you strategies to help you
2:22
head off non constructive
feedback before it's given and
2:25
how to address it when you do receive it.
2:29
Here's a mock up in inVision,
2:31
an app that allows people to
leave feedback on a design.
2:33
I've pre-loaded it with a barrage
of non-constructive criticism.
2:37
Let's go through the comments.
2:42
Make everything in the hero
center aligned and bright red.
2:44
This is prescriptive feedback meaning
is telling the designer what to do.
2:48
It doesn't clearly articulate why your
solution isn't achieving the project goal,
2:54
thereby making it difficult
to learn from an act on.
3:00
I prefer black and white photos.
3:04
This is preferential or
subjective feedback,
3:07
meaning it's just the opinion of
the person providing the feedback.
3:10
The most important opinion is
that of the project's audience.
3:15
Do they prefer black and white photos?
3:20
This isn't doing it for me.
3:22
I'll know what I want when I see it.
3:23
This is non specific feedback,
because it leaves no clear paths forward,
3:26
and leaves a designer to
play a guessing game.
3:31
This feedback could lead a designer
to waste countless hours
3:34
creating multiple designs
without any clear direction.
3:38
Let's look at the comments
on another design.
3:42
Why isn't this done yet?
3:45
It should only take a week.
3:47
This feedback lacks context.
3:49
Often our work takes more effort
than initially meets the eye.
3:51
If the critic doesn't have insight
into the depth of your work,
3:56
walk them through it so
they can understand the complexity.
4:00
I showed this to my girlfriend last night,
and she did not like it.
4:04
Is his girlfriend the target audience?
4:09
If the answer is no,
this is irrelevant feedback.
4:12
This is a weak design.
4:16
What we really need to add
is robust progress tracking,
4:19
downloadable reports, and
weekly progress updates sent via email.
4:24
This is untimely feedback
because it's given without
4:29
consideration of the product timeline.
4:33
This design may represent the extent
of what can be achieved during
4:36
the product development cycle.
4:41
My team's features
should be included here.
4:45
While this may be a valid point,
beware of selfish feedback coming from
4:48
colleagues twisting the design
solution to their advantage.
4:53
For example, a product owner may
want their team's feature to be
4:58
included only to propel the success
of that feature for their benefit.
5:02
It's your responsibility to advocate for
the user.
5:08
Does it truly benefit the user?
5:12
Why are we spending time
developing this when we
5:15
should be improving the onboarding for
customers?
5:20
This is off topic feedback.
5:25
Oftentimes, you'll be in charge of
pitching an idea for a new product or
5:28
feature.
5:32
You may find yourself bombarded
with questions beyond your control.
5:33
These questions are better
answered by product owners and
5:37
business leaders in your company.
5:41
So kindly direct them to those folks.
5:44
Another type is incomplete feedback
which lacks an explanation.
5:47
For example, I love it or
looks good, without further comment.
5:54
If this is the only feedback you get,
you should be concerned.
5:59
What specifically do they like about it?
6:04
Ask questions to ensure they've
thoughtfully considered your approach and
6:08
are genuinely on board with it.
6:13
Otherwise, you may be in for
a surprise later,
6:15
when they more thoughtfully consider it.
6:17
Hopefully the majority of the feedback
you receive in your career will be
6:20
constructive.
6:24
In the next few videos,
I'll teach you how to ask for
6:25
constructive feedback and
address non constructive feedback.
6:28
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