How to master your next design review like a seasoned pro
As a designer, feedback is crucial. But let’s be real, getting feedback can be intimidating, regardless if you’re a veteran or new to the game. So, in this article, I’m gonna help you improve your design reviews by breaking down a few tips and giving you a free template to steal 👇
You’ve gotta prep
First things first, you gotta prep. Even for the most experienced designers, the second you’re in front of an audience, your mind can go blank. Let’s avoid the regret or having to do a follow-up. Take notes and don’t wing it, especially if you’re just starting out. Jot down the key points you want to make sure you hit home. It’s always better to have them and never use them than to need them and not have them.
Don’t skip the context
Before showing a single design, you need to set the context. This is where I’ve seen so many designers mess up. If you don’t set the context, you’ll spend so much time explaining why you’re presenting the designs in the first place. This just takes time away from getting the feedback you’re actually looking for. Your context should cover: the problem, brief, or goal, which user segment the solution is for, the state of the design/copy, and any research or insights. Bonus if you include how you plan to measure success of your solution.
Remember to steal the template below, it covers all of these 👌
Feedback guidelines
Alright, next up, you need to create some feedback guidelines. We’ve all been to those meetings where people give feedback that makes you wanna pull your hair out. To avoid this, tell people what type of feedback you are looking for and what type you’re not looking for. For example, if the copy hasn’t been finalised, say so. If you’re showing an early version of a design, let people know to not pay attention to UI details. People can really struggle knowing how to give feedback so providing good and bad examples can help people know how to give constructive criticism.
Context & feedback template
To help you improve your design reviews, I’ve created a template that you can use to set the context and outline the feedback you’re looking for. After 10 years of trial an error this is the format I’ve found that works best.
You’ll find 3 different templates for the different types of design reviews. I’ve even included examples for each 🎉
Get this template!
That’s a wrap
So, there you have it! By following these tips, your design reviews will run buttery smooth. Remember, preparation is key, set the context, and create feedback guidelines and you’ll be running design reviews like a pro in no time.
Please remember to 👏 if you found this helpful, it helps others find it.
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