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Hey Right Brained Human 👋🏼 !

Welcome to another week of Being Right Brained – Inspiration and ideas for designers and creative folks to work, think, and feel better. (In case you missed my last newsletter, see the full archive of past editions here)

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There is a lot of talk about how to get feedback, but no one tells us how to give feedback. This week's newsletter will help you learn the art of giving feedback — without making the other person lose their cool!

Giving feedback, especially when it's critical, can be tricky. As creatives, we often have to evaluate the work of others, advise clients on their design decisions, and give input on someone's projects. It's all part of the feedback process.

It gets even trickier when you're a team leader, freelancer, or part of a team that works remotely.

After 11 years as a designer for clients large and small, I've learned how to make design feedback more collaborative and useful.

9 Ideas on communicating and distilling feedback for others to feel, think, and work better. 👇🏼

#1 Feedback given is wasted if the other party is unwilling to receive it.
​Ask your clients or colleagues for permission to give feedback by saying, ”I have some thoughts about your work/project that might be helpful, is it okay if I share them with you?"

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#2 Timing is everything. If you give your feedback when it matters most, the recipient can immediately incorporate it into their work.
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​Also, consider the emotional state of the person receiving the feedback. Giving critical feedback at an emotional moment can be counterproductive and lead to defensiveness or resistance.

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#3 Realize the practicalities. For example, we might tell our clients that their logo isn't right and they should change it. This can be overwhelming because logos are a big deal to a brand, and changing them isn't easy. First, ask if the client is ready to make such a big change, and only then offer advice.

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#4 Don't start negative, sandwich the feedback. Often we tend to immediately point out problems, which can put the recipient on the defensive. A good way is to sandwich your critical feedback between two positive remarks so it's easy to digest.

💡 For example, you might begin by saying, "I love the font choices; they really get the message across."
Then address your concerns and say, "However, I have concerns about the number of colors we are using. We want to be clear for our customers. Possible to simplify that?"
​Conclude with another positive comment, either repeating your initial praise or offering a new, related encouragement, such as: "The way you’ve translated the core message is so simple and compelling. Let’s get that same level of simplicity in the visuals too”

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#5 A manager of a Fortune 500 company once said,

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#6 As per a research featured on LinkedIn Talent Blog – 69% of employees say they would work harder if they felt their efforts were being recognized through feedback. Positive feedback is important too.

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#7 Address the problem. People respond better when they understand the problem. Instead of telling them the what, give them the why.
Rather than saying, ”Your brand language isn't consistent”," say, ”I've noticed some inconsistencies in your brand language that could affect brand recall when the product hits the market.”

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#8 Give feedback with sincerity. Remember the moments when you welcomed someone's input? These are often the people you trust. Trust acts as a bridge, making it easier for people to lower their defenses and absorb the information.

When you give feedback, do so with a sincere desire to help others grow, benefit, or improve — not just to get validation or prove yourself right.

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#9 Emotions can be fleeting. When you say, "I feel we should use bold type," it's often seen as a decision guided by emotion rather than insights. Before you let your emotions get the best of you, take a moment to think.
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Instead, try saying, "This artwork seems to lack impact. Do you think a bold font might increase the power of the message?" This way, you're framing your suggestion as a thoughtful consideration rather than a mere feeling.

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Over to you now! ✨

The art of giving feedback to clients and colleagues is an indispensable skill for creative professionals. It's something like the secret sauce that promotes successful collaboration, enhances the quality of creative work, builds trust, and adds that extra layer of sparkle to client satisfaction.

It directly impacts how you navigate the complicated web of interactions in the creative industry.

👉🏼 Think of it as your creative superpower in a world where connections and relationships matter greatly!

p.s. - I am curating a list to guide aspiring designers and other creatives toward their ideal workplace. Can you help me spotlight individual contributors, design studios, and creative agencies in India and beyond? Here's the link to the form, it will take less than 4 minutes to fill ⚡️

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Stay creative,
Apeksha
Right Brained Human

Note: In order to limit the information overload and to ensure that I share only the most valuable ideas and insights with you, I will be adjusting my newsletter frequency to twice a month instead of weekly.

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