In this episode we talk about getting feedback on your creative work. Feedback can be one of the single best ways to improve as a designer. We also touch on adopting the right mindset, and how to avoid feeling down about criticism.

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Show Notes for This Episode:

[1.00] Feedback is crucially important for designers
[1.40] It’s important to get feedback from the end consumer
[2.50] Design needs to ‘work’, it needs to ‘solve problems’
[3.20] The quality of feedback is so key
[4.20] Work needs to look good in brand, out in the real world
[4.50] The importance of getting feedback throughout the process
[6.00] So feedback is important, but how do you get it?
[6.30] Being specific, and guiding the viewer to give great feedback
[7.30] Getting brutally honest feedback from family and loved ones
[8.30] Overbearing art-directors and unwanted feedback
[9.30] Why group feedback can not be helpful
[10.00] Proving your feedback to clients
[10.20] Client feedback usually being right
[11.30] Asking the all important ‘why’
[12.30] Asking questions with direction
[13.20] Drawing the line in terms of doing what the client wants (making the feedback process easier)
[14.00] Dustin’s classic marketing example of jam
[14.40] Letting people vote for multiple pieces on social media
[15.30] How voting can lead to more in depth feedback
[16.30] Make feedback a game, make it fun
[16.55] A challenge for the listeners to get more feedback
[18.15] Leaving and receiving feedback can cause anxiety
[20.00] Don’t be leading with your feedback
[20.50] Discuss the demographics, context etc…
[21.35] Using mockup templates to give your work context
[22.45] How mockups can highlight design faults
[23.00] Using customer bases to get feedback at scale
[24.00] Using your client’s platform to target their audience for feedback
[25.20] Social media lets you run focus groups like a big corporate
[25.40] Creating a mastermind to get in depth feedback from your peers
[27.30] Masterminds are so effective, even if they’re group therapy
[28.20] The importance of being able to talk in a live setting
[29.00] Giving feedback to yourself, by revisiting a piece
[30.00] Techniques for seeing your work in a new light
[32.00] Lisa imagining upside-down designers
[33.00] The approach for feedback (if you have a super thick skin!)
[33.30] Think about the context and motivations of who is giving feedback
[35.00] The importance of giving good feedback to others
[36.30] Often creative work gets very little feedback
[38.25] Understand the platform you’re posting on
[39.30] Take the time to leave a comment for others


“A must for every creative freelancer (or those aspiring to freelance). Thank you for being so… honest! Such a wealth of information from people I admire who have ‘been there and done that’. Listening to the podcast every week feels like I’m among friends. Can’t wait for more episodes!”AG_GD