Thanks for sharing the wording/phrases that have worked well! It's so helpful to read about practical tips and real examples like that. Also, I think using those phrases also helps designers have the right mindset of collaboration and building on past work.
I also think there may be a time and a place for bluntness, though I'm not totally sure when it is. Perhaps after getting alignment on company goals and documenting design issues backed up with data would perhaps be the right time and place to somehow be both clear/blunt and positive.
You mentioned coming into situations where designers are considered ticket-takers. What strategies have you found that can help change that culture?
I might consider direct or candid over being “blunt.” If you’re safely able to be direct or candid it means there’s trust, and if there’s not trust or mutual respect it might not matter quite as much what you really say. I think it’s important to always strive for candor.
I started writing up a long response to your “ticket taker” question before I realized I was writing another diary entry. So keep your eyes peeled 👀
Oooh, I've had that hard logo conversation too. It can be tough when it touches on the personal, especially if created by the founder. Cheers to growth!
Thanks Maigen! It’s interesting that you mention “personal” because feedback can feel like a reflection on the person when it should definitely a reflection of the work. If that line blurs at all, things definitely get uncomfortable (or toxic).
Sometimes you don't know when you're stepping into the personal! Like your example with the CEO and the logo; it happened to me too! The logo was Emergency Red and I asked the CEO if if was possible to consider other treatments or design styles for the logo...oh BOY I got a detailed outline of family history, medical trauma and racism that led to the logo being designed exactly the way it was - and why it wasn't going to change. Real *grimacing-emoji* level stuff. I had no idea, I just wanted to soften it up and make it more relatable to users.
It's so hard to know when to speak up with critique or questions, but your experience is going to help those who are coming along now.
Great points, Taylor! I've designed at a few startups and definitely felt that pain. For me, I usually try my best to withhold comments until I've asked a bunch of questions to fully understand the design's purpose, current value (ie, is it ugly but has strong metrics? A task-speed bottleneck? etc) and its backstory. Often if the dev or PM says, "oh yeah we just threw that together one night," then they all seem open to suggestions. :D
Definitely throw in a post about how you conduct exercises on the brand refresh with your team!
Can do!
Thanks for sharing the wording/phrases that have worked well! It's so helpful to read about practical tips and real examples like that. Also, I think using those phrases also helps designers have the right mindset of collaboration and building on past work.
I also think there may be a time and a place for bluntness, though I'm not totally sure when it is. Perhaps after getting alignment on company goals and documenting design issues backed up with data would perhaps be the right time and place to somehow be both clear/blunt and positive.
You mentioned coming into situations where designers are considered ticket-takers. What strategies have you found that can help change that culture?
Thank you!
I might consider direct or candid over being “blunt.” If you’re safely able to be direct or candid it means there’s trust, and if there’s not trust or mutual respect it might not matter quite as much what you really say. I think it’s important to always strive for candor.
I started writing up a long response to your “ticket taker” question before I realized I was writing another diary entry. So keep your eyes peeled 👀
Oooh, I've had that hard logo conversation too. It can be tough when it touches on the personal, especially if created by the founder. Cheers to growth!
Thanks Maigen! It’s interesting that you mention “personal” because feedback can feel like a reflection on the person when it should definitely a reflection of the work. If that line blurs at all, things definitely get uncomfortable (or toxic).
Sometimes you don't know when you're stepping into the personal! Like your example with the CEO and the logo; it happened to me too! The logo was Emergency Red and I asked the CEO if if was possible to consider other treatments or design styles for the logo...oh BOY I got a detailed outline of family history, medical trauma and racism that led to the logo being designed exactly the way it was - and why it wasn't going to change. Real *grimacing-emoji* level stuff. I had no idea, I just wanted to soften it up and make it more relatable to users.
It's so hard to know when to speak up with critique or questions, but your experience is going to help those who are coming along now.
That is intense! Thanks for sharing, and I hope others don’t have to experience that level of intensity haha
Great points, Taylor! I've designed at a few startups and definitely felt that pain. For me, I usually try my best to withhold comments until I've asked a bunch of questions to fully understand the design's purpose, current value (ie, is it ugly but has strong metrics? A task-speed bottleneck? etc) and its backstory. Often if the dev or PM says, "oh yeah we just threw that together one night," then they all seem open to suggestions. :D