Good design isn't something that can be achieved overnight. It takes time and effort to create a design that is both effective and aesthetically pleasing. A critical part of this is having a good network of feedback providers for your designs. In this article, we will be discussing how you can find feedback providers for your designs. We will also be providing a list of resources, so keep reading to know how you can build an army of feedback providers for your designs.
Preparation
When seeking design feedback, the first step is to identify your target audience. Knowing your target audience will help you locate potential people who can give you more objective feedback.
Identify the type of feedback you need
The first step to identifying your target audience is considering the type of feedback you need. Are you looking for a general sense of what people think of your design, or are you hoping to validate specific assumptions? How can other stakeholders add value?
Knowing what type of feedback will be most beneficial to you will help narrow down the types of people who should provide it. For example, if you are trying to confirm an idea's feasibility, then business stakeholders might be the best to solicit feedback. If you're seeking suggestions on refining an existing design, end users or design experts are probably the right target audience.
Identify the type of audience you need
Developing an influential target audience for your design feedback is key to any successful collection, review, and execution of feedback. Whether creating a survey, hosting a focus group, or holding an interview session, it is essential to identify the audience that will provide the most meaningful feedback.
Think carefully about who you would like to involve in your design process. Some things to consider are age, geography, gender, and other characteristics relevant to the product or service. It is essential also to consider whether you need users who have no experience with the product/service or those who have used it in the past. Once you have identified your target audience, look at how best to reach out and collect their input.
Precisely targeting your audience may mean reaching out through channels that match their interests and preferences - for example, social media for younger generations or print media for older generations - to increase response and participation rates. Additionally, know what type of technology your target audience prefers– if they are tech-savvy, using online tools can be cost-effective and convenient when collecting quality responses from a large pool of participants in a short period.
Carefully weighing up your options will ensure you reach the best people with relevant information to confidently assess customer needs and make more real improvements that meet their demands.
Method 1: Ask Friends and Family (In Dominic Toretto's voice)
Asking your friends and family for design feedback is a great way to get honest, unbiased opinions about what works with your design and what doesn't. Start by making a list of your closest contacts—those who know you best, have experience in the design field, or can offer perspective on the target audience for your product or service.
Be sure to explain that you're looking for feedback and why having their opinion matters to you. When they review the design, ask open-ended questions like "What do you think of this design?" or "Does this element make sense?" Be sure to thank them when they provide their feedback as well!
Ask your family and friends to share your creation with their friends, as these people can offer unique perspectives on what works and doesn't. Additionally, you'll get to hear from a wider group of people with different opinions that may be more appropriate for the audience you are designing for.
Consider reaching out to respected members of the broader design community. With just a few clicks of your mouse, it's easy to connect with people on LinkedIn, Twitter, or other social networks, which could provide valuable input on the project at hand.
Method 2: Use Social Media
Social media platforms are excellent places for finding people to give you meaningful feedback about your designs. By searching and joining relevant design-based groups, it's possible to find experienced professionals who can provide you with input from a broad range of perspectives.
Utilizing hashtags is an excellent way of connecting with people who share similar interests or skills as yourself. Building relationships with like-minded individuals on social media allows you to set yourself up for more opportunities when looking for feedback or mentorship.
Let's explore some strategies for finding people to give you feedback on social media.
Join relevant groups on Facebook
Facebook provides an excellent opportunity for finding people to give you feedback on your design work. Joining groups related to design is a good starting point. Once you're a member, spend some time getting to know the group members before asking for feedback on your work.
Groups focused explicitly on design tools like Photoshop, Sketch or Canva are worth seeking out and joining, as many designers use these particular tools.
Many critique groups also have their own private groups — such as logo critique. You can join them to ask questions and seek feedback about your own design. Make sure you follow the rules and guidelines of the group.
Searching for groups is quite simple, search for terms like "logo feedback" or "design critique" in the FB search bar. Click on "Groups" to filter by groups. You can test out different locations to find many communities around the world.
Follow relevant hashtags on Twitter to build relationships
Twitter is one of the best ways to reach out to a wide range of people and connect with other industry professionals. You can follow relevant hashtags and network with people who are passionate about the same topics related to design.
For example, if you do a website design or mobile app design, you can use hashtags such as #webdesign, #uxdesigner, or #userexperience. Follow people who post content related to design topics you're interested in and comment on their posts.
This will create an opportunity for conversation, feedback, and advice from other experts in the field. You can also create polls using hashtags that connect with other designers who you want to get feedback from.
Use relevant subreddits on Reddit
Reddit is an excellent resource for design-related tips and finding peers to review your work. Several subreddits allow you to post requests for feedback. Designers from around the world visit these subreddits, so you will likely get different opinions from a wide range of experienced people.
A few Subreddits that can be particularly useful:
Method 3: Find Professional Designers
As with any project, the best way to ensure a successful outcome is to involve professional input where necessary. Design feedback can be invaluable for improving designs, and even if you're working on a self-initiated project, it's worth considering getting information from an experienced professional.
You can hire a part-time designer; there are other options, such as contracting freelance designers or using crowdsource/outsource platforms like Upwork or 99designs. This can often be less expensive than full-time hires, giving you access to a wide range of talent. When sourcing professional feedback, here are some tips:
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Make sure you check portfolios and reviews before selecting someone - that way, you can be sure they're experienced in the type of work you require.
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Be clear about what kind of feedback you need. It may help to sketch your idea before contacting potential professionals who can provide advice on design elements, coding processes, user interface interactions, and more.
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Explain your timescale and budget – this will help professionals decide whether your project is feasible within these parameters – if not, they should tell you!
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Decide on payment terms upfront so that both parties know what to expect - there's no point in setting expectations only for them to not materialize due to disagreements over money later in the process!
Finally, please ensure both parties understand who owns the copyright when delivering the project at its completion; this will save any messy disagreements down the line!
Method 4: Leverage Online Communities
Join design-focused Slack channels
Slack channels have several advantages, such as allowing you to have real-time conversations and seeing what other design professionals in the field are talking about.
These Slack communities are wonderful places to network with fellow designers. You can find out what projects they're working on, ask them questions, or discuss current issues related to design. You can even participate in events run by these communities, like mini hackathons or workshops – all of which will help you sharpen your skills and practice giving and receiving constructive criticism while learning from line professionals.
Aside from having a conversation with others, joining a dedicated design-focused community also allows you access to resources related to the field, such as job postings, industry news, links for tutorials, open-source projects, and more that may help improve your work. Not only does it build relationships with like-minded people, but it also allows for direct access to valuable information about the industry that would be difficult to find anywhere else.
Use online design communities for showcasing your work like Dribbble and Behance
Online design communities are a great way to get feedback from other designers and expand your network. Dribbble is a popular online community where designers showcase their portfolios, comment on each other's work, and develop professional relationships.
When joining online design communities like Dribbble, think of it as an opportunity to grow professionally. Most of the time, you can join group conversations, participate in contests and follow influential professionals. As a newcomer, the best way to start is to post your designs and provide constructive critiques on others' work - this will help you make connections more efficiently and position you as an active contributor within the community.
You may also get requests from employers looking for design talent or referrals. One great advantage of being part of these online networks is that people can contact you directly if they like your work. Include relevant information about yourself in your profile pages, such as experience and skillset.
Use design critique websites like Spokk
Spokk is a social app built around design feedback. It provides an opportunity to get feedback on your designs from other designers and from people around the world. Spokk is an online community designed for critique and feedback exchange on all types of design work. Spokk is currently invite only, and you need to be signed up to start posting your work.
You don't need any particular design skill level to join as long as you can offer thoughtful advice about a piece. After receiving feedback from the members on Spokk, you can use it to make adjustments. Iterate this step as many times as you like!
We hope you now have a solid idea on how you can find feedback providers for your designs. Happy hunting!
