UX Design feedback: how to give productive feedback for amazing designs

As a user experience (UX) designer, feedback can lead to a productive collaboration and effective sharing of ideas that could elevate final UX design solutions and the UX design handoff process. Communication is therefore key when it comes to UX design feedback.

Goal of UX design feedback

The main goal of UX design feedback is to ensure that the product or service meets the needs and expectations of its intended users. Also, feedback can help to proactively identify and address any issues or challenges that may arise from the user experience.

Moreover, feedback is a vital part of the design process, as it helps designers to better understand how users interact with and perceive the product or service. It can guide how necessary changes and improvements are made to enhance the overall user experience.

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How to give great UX design feedback

Here are a few thoughts about how to give the most effective feedback on a user experience:

Be clear and specific

A major problem of most feedback is that the information is too vague. Examples of useless feedback are: "I am not feeling it," "I do not like it," and "It does not click."

Make sure you describe and explain exactly what your feedback relates to. Is it the usability, content design, layout, color, or other factor? Be ready to answer questions after providing feedback in case the process turns into a discussion.

Additionally, be clear when providing feedback. An example of what to say might be: "I do not like the mother image. I don’t think it is something our audience will engage with."

Describe the problems, don’t offer solutions

This is where many clients, users, and other designers get it wrong. When giving feedback about a UX design, don’t succumb to the urge to offer solutions. If you were an expert UX designer, you probably would have done the work yourself. Instead of a prescriptive request, you can offer suggestions.

Instead of saying "make the fonts fifteen points," you can say "as a startup with little brand popularity, we want our users to see our texts clearly and become familiar with our brand."

Below are some examples of design feedback that can be given across different UX design specialties:

1. “The navigation menu on the homepage is confusing and not intuitive. It would be helpful to reorganize the menu items and add subcategories or drop-down menus to make it easier for users to find what they're looking for.”
2. “The font size on the product pages is too small and difficult to read, especially on mobile devices. Increasing the font size and/or providing the option for users to adjust the font size might improve the user experience.”
3. “The checkout process is too long and cumbersome. There are too many forms to fill out and too many pages to click through. Simplifying the process and reducing the number of steps might make it easier for users to complete their purchases.”
4. “The search function is not working as expected. It is providing inaccurate or irrelevant results, or it is not providing any results at all. Improving the search algorithm and/or adding additional filters and options might make it easier for users to find what they're looking for.”
5. “The layout of the blog page is cluttered and overwhelming. There are too many ads and links competing for attention. What about simplifying the layout and reducing the number of distractions to make it easier for users to focus on the content?”

What is UX design feedback?

UX design feedback refers to the process of gathering input and insights from users, clients, and stakeholders about the effectiveness, desirability, and usability of a product or service.

There are two types of UX feedback: positive and negative. Designers gather this feedback through various methods, including through user testing, surveys, and one-on-one interviews. Feedback is then used to inform and improve the design of the product or service.

In a nutshell

Feedback is a very important part of every project and can significantly improve the user experience and lead to more effective solutions. Whether the feedback is from a client, a user, or a fellow designer, the goal is to ensure the product or service provides users with a smooth experience overall.