One thing you should know about design is that it is an iterative process. Regular feedback is the lifeblood that drives improvement and positive change in design processes. No matter your expertise in the design field, whether you are a graphic designer, product designer, web developer or any other type of designer, getting steady feedback about your designs is vital, especially if you want to create user-centric solutions. 

As a designer, you should not joke about finding creative ways to turn feedback into a powerful tool that can enhance your design process and give you room for mutual collaboration and innovation.

In this piece, we will explore different ways you can incorporate feedback into your design process. As we go deeper into the topic, you will surely take away one or two points that can be a game-changer in your design process. So, relax and read on. 

Why is feedback vital in design? 

The essence of feedback in any field is to drive and encourage excellence and perfection. In the design field, feedback helps to drive design excellence. 

Again, feedback in design can serve as a guide that directs designers towards the right path of creating better solutions. 

Below are some of the reasons feedback is vital in design; 

• It gives room for improvement: One of the significant reasons feedback exists in design is to guide designers on how best they can improve their design process. From the feedback received, it is easier for designers to spot where they are not doing well and find alternative & effective ways to improve.

• It promotes user-centricity: You cannot eliminate users from the design process. Users are a vital part of any design process, and that’s because they are ultimately the people who will make use of the products/solutions designers create & build. So, to ensure that users are always satisfied and have a smooth experience while interacting with designs, designers need to have users in mind during their design process. This includes creating designs that are user-friendly, intuitive and engaging. 

• It helps solve problems within the design process: The aim of designing products is to help solve problems that users face. In cases like this, feedback immensely promotes problem-solving by highlighting & informing the designers of the challenges they are tackling with their design. Issues that have to do with functionality, aesthetics, or usability are fixed effectively through well-thought-out feedback.  

• It fosters continuous learning: Accepting and acting upon feedback is one of the practical ways to learn and grow as a designer. Being open to action-driven feedback can motivate and become an enabler for designers who want to expand their skill set, adapt to current trends and stay ahead in evolving in the design field. 

How to effectively incorporate feedback into the design process 

Not all designers know how to harness feedback effectively in their design process. As a designer, one skill you need to be excellent at is understanding how to practically and effectively incorporate feedback into your design process. Becoming an expert at incorporating feedback into your design process will skyrocket your ability to create and build excellent solutions. 

Here are some tips that will assist you in effectively incorporating feedback into your design process; 

• Ensure you are asking the right question: Getting relevant feedback that adds value to your design can be the hack you need to excel as a designer. This is why you should ask the right questions often when seeking feedback as a designer. Knowing how to ask the right question is one of the best ways to elevate and get actionable insights to perfect your design process & outcome. 

• Keep a track record of your feedback: Keeping a track record of your received feedback through documentation is an excellent method of incorporating feedback effectively into your design process. You can easily prioritize feedback through documentation. This helps designers to know which feedback needs to be implemented immediately or left for later. 

• Be versatile when seeking feedback: One of the mistakes you should never make as a designer is limiting getting feedback about your work to a selected few. As a designer, it is vital to expand your pool of feedback sources. This is because limiting the amount of feedback you receive can affect your design process negatively by limiting your growth opportunities. Remember, diversity plays a vital role in most design processes. So, make it part of your design process and see how it can assist you in building innovative solutions and products. 

• Know the right time to ask for feedback: When incorporating feedback into your design process, timing is everything. As a designer, it is essential to understand the crucial times in your design process/stages that require you to ask for feedback before moving to the next step. Also, try to be specific with the type of feedback you expect to get from your reviewers at every stage of your design but don’t restrict your reviewers too much as this may shoot you in the foot. 

• Be open to feedback: As a designer, it is vital to train yourself to be flexible in receiving feedback without viewing it as a criticism of your hard work and effort. Learn how to ask and receive feedback as a practical way of improving your design process. Do not shy away from embracing feedback, but endeavor to be open to dialogue that promotes a healthy ground for designers like you to excel at work. 

• Always remember to iterate and test: As the saying goes, design is an iterative process. That’s why you should never skip the process of iterating and testing the changes made from implementing feedback on real users to enable you to see the outcome and know if your design is user-centric. 

Practicing these practical tips for effectively incorporating feedback into your design process would surely help you excel in your career as a designer. Feedback is a powerful tool, and when it is effectively implemented and incorporated into the design process, designers can come up with outstanding and problem-solving solutions. 

Lastly, there should not be a reason for designers to overlook the entire process of getting and implementing feedback into the design process. It is valuable and essential for the greater good and impact of designs.