How can you critique graphic design remotely?

Just *please* never say: “I don’t know what I want, but I’ll know it when I see it.” Your designer may be very talented, but we aren’t psychics.

You'll want to communicate your insights in a way that's: ?? Low-friction ?? Actionable ?? Trackable Your go-to feedback platform should help you meet that standard. Comments on a Figma file are low-friction, relatably trackable, and highly actionable. A Loom video is low-friction but I'd recommend you combine it with a written checklist that allows designers to keep track of progress and comment on specific suggestions. Generally, I'd recommend giving your designers feedback directly where they work or in a platform they already use.

Sometimes it is always better to have trackable communication of your insights on topics or subjects.This will help you know how much your insights are impacting lives and what you can do to improve your communication insights.

As the creative director of a hybrid team I’m always critiquing designs remotely. I always believe that giving feedback over a video call can make the process easier and more accurate. This makes it a conversation with room for clarification and questions instead of a “you did this wrong” situation.

This is such a stupid question lol. can you see the graphic??? i think you'll be okay. OH, it's powered by AI, that explains a lot.

As a Graphic Designer who manages clients both in person and remotely one piece of advice stands out. Try to use words that are not subjective and provide visual examples when possible. I think most graphic designers can relate to the ambiguity of "Can we use a fun font?" It can be difficult to elaborate further but a helpful aid to being more descriptive is to also provide visual aids with your critique. A simple screenshot or inspirational image that better illustrates the direction you want to go can greatly reduce the time spent going back and forth on a project.

While it is important to be kind and respectful with feedback, it's also important to be direct! Being too nice or trying not to bruise egos can draw out the feedback process and create ambiguity. Honest, direct communication is critical to getting projects completed on time with high standards. I would rather a client tell me that they hate something so we can scrap the idea and move on than go through multiple revisions to hone an idea that's a bad fit.

@nolan While it is important to be kind and respectful with feedback, which is a obvious fact. It's also important to be direct, which I would disagree with you because direct approach to things in the design world does not always work well in most cases.

Things to keep in mind: - Feedback should be direct and specific. Don’t be vague. - Be prepared for questions. Don’t give changes for the sake of it. - Don’t micromanage your designers. Let them create designs that they have come up with, not recreate something you have thought of.

@emily I agree with you on the fact that using illustration can greatly help a designer send across a theme or an idea to the project owner faster than trying to explain your self.

By printing out samples and mailing it to the reviewer. It is very difficult to assess designs intended for print on a screen. Most people can’t do it. If the design is digital, make sure it is being viewed at actual size (not zoomed in or out). Use a whiteboard software.

With over a decade as an in-house graphic designer, transitioning to remote work during the pandemic was a fresh challenge. Remote design critiques demand deliberate communication to prevent feedback gaps. The concluding touchpoint isn't mere formality but a clarity bridge. A simple thank-you and feedback summary foster collaboration, and offering resources ensures design alignment. Updates act as trust-builders and if there's a deviation, realignment becomes easier. Celebrating achievements, even remotely, nurtures community. Ultimately, the follow-up safeguards against misunderstandings, promoting true teamwork in remote design settings.

With in-house designers there's the advantage of time, of being hands-on. With remote work I think the most important thing is having time for a project, giving the to-and-fro time. It is important to remember that good design is subject. As an agency we feel getting designing done remotely means spending some time to search for the right references to explain what one wants to the designer. Zoom/Google meet/Teams calls with screen share are great in the initial phases of project discussion. Tools such as commenting in pdf I find are the simplest with text input. Emails and some of the collaborative software, even something as simple as a google sheet that everyone can input into help keep track of the project dates and inputs.

Critiquing graphic design remotely involves clear communication through video conferencing with screen sharing, using digital annotation tools for visual feedback, providing both voice and written feedback, evaluating designs objectively, utilizing collaborative design platforms, maintaining a respectful and constructive tone, and scheduling follow-up sessions to ensure progress, all while considering time zone differences for effective remote collaboration.

- Always make design critique a dialogue. - Don’t be a dictator. - Be open to ideas and look at designs objectively. - Most importantly check that the design meets its purpose, because even the most beautiful design will not work if it doesn’t meet its requirements.