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I think the most important part is not to take that criticism as a personal attack, and deal with it with some wisdom.

Ow boy. This sounds just like me… I have a hard time receiving negative responses from my designs. Although my emlpoyer is one of those that gives me useless critics which I have a hard time working with. As a designer you really want to know what wrong, and not hear somthing like: “That logo sucks” or “I don”t like the design”. In all of those cases it’s back to the drawingboard, back to the beginning…
So numbers 7 is for me to work on… This article is a true life saver…

Many thanks for sharing

Nice article, love the illustrations!

I’ve always been able to take and give criticism well, without being too vague or subjective (though there’s always subjectivity in design criticism). One thing that does bug me, however, is when people are lying or telling a white lie to make a new designer feel better. It’s better to be one hundred per cent truthful to make somebody improve, rather than lie and let them carry on with something that is downright vile, and I’m sure many of you agree with me.

A really nice article there, I even start a thread over at the Web Designer Forum asking people to criticise themselves.

I know how hard is to get bad feedbacks from our clients/bosses because that happens all the time.

Sometimes you get paid not to really design, but to draw and format those elements according and stricktly to the boss/client´s point of view, and that my friend, is the saddest day of work.

However, criticism is always good, so it makes you come down to Earth and realise that those infinite hours you worked are worth or not. If not, then you realise that the one who´s needing to change is you. Sometimes criticism comes in a rewarding way, i guess, most of the time though.

Really bad criticism, I noticed that I don’t get it too often anymore, but don’t get me wrong I had my share. Sometimes I still do get a good load of criticism. The worst design processes are the ones without any criticism.

“Constructive” is a key word when it comes to criticism, but the reality is that sometimes we get opinions from someone who is barely qualified to give an assessment. So be it! Whether they’re qualified or not to render an opinion is not the point; sometimes, we are charged with executing to the wishes of the “internal client” first, then the external client second.

The best lesson I ever learned over the years was to separate the issue from the tissue—who I am is SO much more than what I do.

Great article!

def something i need to work on .. ha. thanks SMASH!

great article! criticism is necessary and helps make things better. I find myself getting very frustrated, though, when the client wants things that just look bad or tacky; I don’t want to put my name on something sub-par.

I think as many have already said, its sometimes difficult taking criticism from people you think aren’t qualified to give it. A bitter pill to swallow when you know your idea is a winner.

But yes I have been taken down different routes and from that the final product has benefited from the initial criticism. Yet many a time that criticism and client led projects have ended in a less than effective design at best.

Many a time I try to explain to clients not to try and personalize their website and look at it through their customers eyes instead. This usually provides common ground to take things forward and get them on side with the initial drafts.

Yet I would disagree with the above post, no criticism means I get the project billed and paid quicker, no one can argue with that.

Great article, as always.

wow! a lifesaver post… it helps alot.. thnx for sharing!

I do agree critics for your design always takes you to the next level of design where you think from others perspective :)

Very nice article, I love this…….

I don’t see criticism as a negative at all… because I’m working as an “owner advocate”.
In foodservice and hospitality design especially, functionality is an absolute must, thus constructive criticism fuels great design. My role differs, in that we must bring an added level of expertise with operations and understanding what the client is trying to achieve from an operational, as well as the guest perspective. In my business, I have to see everything from the client’s point of view (including budget) so I welcome the challenge brought on by spirited discussions. Remember, “When you’re green your good, when you’re ripe you’re rotten”

Everyone I know who convinces themselves they are doing this seriously and professionally take critisism like a punch in the gut.

Personally, most critique won’t bite me because I know in 99% of the situations I have encountered it’s nothing worth thinking of. Unless I know I am at a loss I can always argue 100% for what I am doing to the point where the one giving me critique must give up. :3

Amazing Article!

This is a great article for all levels of designers to consider. I am relatively new to the design world and am picking up the skills as a self-trained amateur. One of the really cool things has been starting a 12 week challenge with a close friend that will hopefully boost our inspiration, challenge us to try new things, but it also gives us the opportunity to leave comments and criticism. We have just started our 6th week of the “challenge” and I can already tell an improvement in my skill and design with the comments, criticisms, and suggestions I have been given on previous weeks projects.

I think I will use this article as a key reference every so often as a good reality check! Thank you.

Bryan – TheCreatorsClub.com

There is an entire spectrum of criticism between “It just doesn’t work” to “Make this blue and put it here.” I love thoughtful criticism (in fact I crave it), but having someone expect you to read their mind or giving direction so minutely specific that I become a mere mindless instrument without judgment are both quite discouraging. How about an article on how to give criticism?

I can go either way with criticism, sometimes I can just brush it off, sometimes it would keep me up all night. I guess it depends on the source of the criticism. I often ask friends and colleagues for feedback on photos I’m working on and when I was designing my photography site. I constantly ask my wife her opinion when I’m working on a set of photos for a client.

Just as long as the criticism is meant to help, not just be inflammatory, I try to welcome it.

Meaningful criticism requires critical thinking. That lets out 50% of the population (in America, anyway). It also requires that egos be checked at the door. Lop off another 40%. It also requires the client to remember (and stick to) the stated objective. Subtract another 15%. That leaves us with a negative number.

Hey! No wonder criticism is so often negative.

Thanks for the great reminder Smashing! My designing has vastly improved over the past year because I have learned to take criticism from my peers and use it for good without compromising my work. I have found that Concept Feedback is a great site to get good quality peer review on my work.

Nice article. This is really hard stuff to deal with, but your tips are pretty good to survive in a feedback session.

It is a very nice article, I guess there are not too many responses because the criticism seems to be so scary and painful matter that people are afraid to read about it.

This was a wonderful article! What I gained from this article will help so much in my future. I appreciate the write.

I guess sometimes people fail to realise that they did not listen properly. It goes both ways :- from the designer’s point of view to the client side. If you consider hearing others criticisms to the equivalent of listening to their thoughts on the project or visual and on how they see your visuals, I think you feel half as bad.

yeah nice :) but not really original..

Good article.

I just love it when people criticise but don’t offer proper feedback; eg: Oh you know, I’ll leave to you.

And then 2 weeks later, after the sample artwork has been delivered: “Oh but that wasn’t what I wanted.”.

Gee dude, what do I look like, a psychic?

Then it’s back to the drawing board.

But otherwise, two or three brains (who more or less know creatively which direction they’re heading) is always better than one.

excellent article, it’s always good to be reminded about the little things that help make a project big.

Glad you chose that Churchill quote and not the one where he said, “I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes…”

Still, twas a helpful article all the same.

“Constructive” criticism is the hardest part of any creative job. What I’ve learned: if I keep getting the same type of correction — in my case, design elements are often seen as too low key — there’s something to the criticism and I should re-examine my overall strategy. But my least favorite approach is when someone (esp. if they’re not a designer) just says “use this” without giving me a whack at whatever isn’t working. Ugh.

Of course negative feedback stings. But its necessary.

There are several comments above that talk about getting poor feedback i.e. “this logo sucks” or “I don’t like it”. Its usually not the critics job to give you concise, accurate feedback about a design, its our job as the designer to figure it out. That’s the point of 7. If a client doesn’t like a logo – why? Does it not accurate represent their brand? And why are they requesting a bigger logo? Do they feel the brand is getting lost by an overpowering background? When a client asked for red text its our job to understand they’re saying that text needs to be emphasized in someway, not necessarily made red. And, often time to help the client understand that too.

To dismiss feedback as poor, or not constructive is lazy. They’re not the designer, you are and you need to be able to interpret what that feedback is. After all, design is communication, and the designer can’t excel at communication, then its the designer that’s bad, not the critique.

why was my comment not published?

I feel like when it comes it art & design, everyone can have a valuable opinion regardless of if they’re “qualified.” Of course I put more weight on certain opinions over others but I don’t think that just because someone has a business degree instead of fine arts or is a plumber instead of a designer that means they won’t have valuable insight.

A problem I see often is some designers only respect feedback from other people in their industry (fellow designers / web developers / etc), which is a mistake… what appeals to designers doesn’t work for all people, especially when designing for an audience that is less comfortable with technology.

I do think client’s criticism should always be seriously considered even if it seems silly — after all they probably have been working with their customers a lot longer and may have better insight into what works for them.

The above story sounds strangely familiar. In fact I think I know you! This article is great and very timely. Communication skills are a must. I agree with all of the above. This is very common of nonprofits.

Agree with Ahmed Obaid thought, this kind of thing are hard to master. It ain’t easy to take it as it comes. Especially when the clients ain’t artists at all.

I think the article needs A LOT of work! ;)
Just kidding. Thanks for the tips.

Excellent advise and a topic not usually covered. I posted a link to this page on my daily design blog

I think the article needs A LOT of work! ;)
Just kidding. Thanks for the tips.

True, true… Thanks for the tips :)

hi,
Honestly the more constructive criticism you take and work with it, the better designer you will become! that’s true.

I always accept constructive criticism – how else am I to grow and improve my work? Likewise, I always try to positively criticize my friends and colleagues when I think I can help them to improve something in their life/work. For example, DubLi.com didn’t have a search box for a long while, an omission which I thought was a bit odd for a shopping portal. Now they do! Although I doubt it was my lone pointer which changed that!

Thank you for the article and especially for the thread that’s followed.

“ByColor (October 1st, 2009, 1:58 pm)
Don’t forget the opposite: when criticism gets too specific and too often, it can turn a designer into a simple pixel pusher.”

Amen to that, I’m constantly complimented as being ‘easy to work with’ but never happy with my work as somehow I’ve surrendered my power to the client who’s suddenly no longer consulting my expertise.

“razor (October 4th, 2009, 7:56 am)
i’ve realized specially with web projects. approx one month after the initial preview of the design. the wow factor wears out and the client tends to ask to change things. i’ve come to believe this is because they keep looking at the design and their mind gets bored of it. what you guys think abt this.”

Razor, you hit the nail on the head. They definitely are enamored by the initial ‘wow’ factor then when the honey moon is over they see the real site. And surprise surprise… how often does it come full circle back to your original designs that were addressing the original requirements?

The list of forums good for design feedback makes this article worth reading all in itself!

I’m don’t agree w/ the idea that “Design is subjective.” I’ve always believed that design should be OBJECTIVE and I don’t think it should be viewed on the same level as art. Art is about self expression while design is about goals, business, success, etc. I think Smashing is a highly respected source in the online design community but it’s a very irresponsible statement to make. I don’t consider myself an artist but a partner in helping my company achieve their goals using design. The proper response to #1 is to reiterate what those goals were when setting out on the design (and I hope no one here is willy nilly designing something for the sake of making it look “pretty”). Of course there are a lot of clients/bosses where that won’t fly but at least stand up for those goals and let’s base the feedback around those instead of personal feelings. As a designer, it would be a lot easier to respond to “I don’t feel that is working because…” instead of “Make this red” so I think it’s also up to us to probe deep enough to ask “Why don’t you think this is working?”

thanks for the article, this is something i always wanted to say but was never able to put in precise words. i dont know about industry but for students it is very helpful.

Its a subject that comes down to entirely how you are as a person, and what you are interested in achieving. Focus objectively on one person trying to improve the work, and you trying in kind. Sadly it often becomes about the people having a macho standoff of who knows best being king. Eventually people will argue anything just for the sake of disagreeing and showing they too can look at design critically, completely at the expense of the work. Online networks should change this though, running ideas through discussion forums allows anonymous feedback and people have time to calm down and think sensibly.
blur designs network

One thing I’ve come to realize after a very long time is that you are only a designer when you do the first iteration or what my mentor calls (and now I do too) “A straw man.” After that first iteration, you are no longer the designer, but only the person with the skills to help the client, who is really the designer. There has to be a place to start. Don’t make the straw man so perfect and put so much energy into it that it’s your “one perfect design.” It’s meant to be offered as a place to start, so the client / boss can feel like they have had a say and are involved in the process.

Then, after this first iteration, the design is no longer “yours.” With input from the client or boss, the design is now becoming “community property” and what you can bring to the table is guidance on design principles and to take in what they are asking for and finding ways to solve problems. That is what design is, a way to solve problems. People get too caught up in the “beauty” of the design. The question, the goal, is “does this design do the things we need it to do, and if not where does it fall short?”

As a designer, you are only a guide. Your job is to help the client or boss explain their requirements, and within the constraints of your industry and media, offer a solution that addresses those requirements. Note that their requirements may not be solidified, or even “correct;” they may even be in flux because of internal disagreements at the client site.

So when people get overly arrogant about “He doesn’t know how to design, I’m the designer here,” they are surely not recognizing their role. The designer is there to help bring to life the idea that the client has. And if you think that everyone sees the reds, greens, and blues in exactly the shades that you’ve picked, you’ve got a long climb ahead.

Hi

Good advice. Criticism can be hard to take and to put to good use.
Also, one important thing is to not take it personally and to not let it affect self-esteem.

Juliet