You're facing criticism for your design choices. How do you uphold professionalism while defending them?

If your designs face no criticism How can your designs become valuable? Think smart, Act smart No matter what people say about your design, if your mind is satisfied and according to principle then go ahead!

Listening Carefully: Understand the feedback fully before responding. Staying Calm and Positive: Keep the conversation constructive and avoid defensiveness. Explaining Your Choices: Clearly articulate the rationale behind your design decisions. Providing Evidence: Support your decisions with data and examples. Acknowledging Valid Points: Recognize valid criticisms and show openness to improvement. Suggesting Compromises: Offer solutions that address concerns while maintaining your vision. Focusing on Goals: Emphasize how your choices align with project objectives. Following Up: Summarize discussions and agreed changes to ensure alignment.

When explaining design decisions, I adapt my approach based on the audience. With designers, I discuss methodologies using technical terms and data. For stakeholders like product managers, I highlight how design aligns with project goals in clear language. For laymen, I simplify further, focusing on practical benefits like usability and aesthetics. This custom-made communication ensures my designs are *understood* and appreciated by all, fostering better collaboration and support. Most of the time it is just that people find it hard to understand the thought process and idealogy behind the design rather than disliking it, if we are confident about our design thought process. So better communication and welcoming criticism are the keys.

In my experience, when facing criticism as a senior UI/UX designer, it's crucial to listen actively and respond calmly, using data and user research to substantiate your design decisions. I make it a point to clearly explain the rationale behind my choices and invite collaboration to explore improvements, maintaining openness to constructive feedback. This approach ensures professionalism and underscores my commitment to creating effective, user-centered designs aligned with the project's business objectives.

In design, critique is part of the journey. Recently, I've faced some criticism on a project, and I see this as an opportunity to clarify my perspective. My designs blend aesthetics with functionality, inspired by Jaipur's vibrant culture and traditions. While I value constructive feedback, I also believe in staying true to our brand's core vision. THINGS TO MIND: 1.Acknowledge Feedback- Show that you value the client's input. 2.Explain Your Vision- Share the reasoning behind your design choices. 3. Offer Alternatives-Suggest adjustments to address concerns. 4.Stay Professional-Maintain a positive and respectful tone. 5. Reiterate Value-Remind the client of the unique benefits of your design.

Acknowledge their concerns. It is important that your client feels like their input is valuable. Address each concern point by point. As the designer, you made conscious decisions about the choices you made. Referring to solid design principles, explain why you made the choices you did and discuss the strengths of those decisions, and how they make the design work more effectively. As well, you might consider their comments and see if there is common ground between your choice and the clients desires. If the concern will make the piece less effective, in the end you'll have to decide what direction to take. Some adhere to "the client is always right", some take the "Howard Roark" approach. Tough choice.

Na minha experiência, entendo que, após acolher os feedbacks de maneira construtiva, é importante adotar uma comunica??o n?o violenta e trazer justificativas consistentes que embasem suas intencionalidades com aquele trabalho. é sabido que o campo do design conta com a subjetividade, porém, isso n?o deve ser um pilar principal. Justifique suas escolhas, monte um storytelling que fa?a com que seus clientes entendam o partido adotado por você. Mostre o motivo pelo qual suas decis?es s?o as melhores para solucionar as quest?es de design expostas.

Our development process is one of the most important that exists, each stage must count as if it were our life, in fact, it is a new life. New Brand, new thoughts, each decision will have consequences, they must be good for you and the brand. Your creation process must be clear and evident, not only from Designer to Designer, but also from Designer to Client, they are your priority, each alternative, change, explanation, must be in an easy to understand concept and values, each Minimum detail must also be included for better formatting of ideas and final approval.

In the book, 'Design is a Job', by Mike Monteiro, he says a designer sells his/her ideas or design. It is the designer's job to sell their rationale. This is done by listening first, which creates the brief. Whatever you design must achieve the goal in the brief. This neutralizes any biases. As long as the design achieves the goals outlined, it does not matter who likes what and who doesn't. There are some designs that I'm not proud of, some color combinations I'm not a fan of but they get the job done so I must swallow my pride.

Great point! Seeking clarity on feedback is essential for growth. It shows professionalism and a genuine desire to improve. By asking specific questions, we ensure the design evolves in the right direction. Let's dive into the critique together!

Always approach feedback with an open mind and a readiness to engage in constructive dialogue. This not only helps obtain clear and actionable insights but also fosters a collaborative environment where feedback is seen as a tool for mutual improvement rather than criticism. When seeking clarity, ask specific questions that guide the feedback provider to give more detailed insights. For example, if a client says a design feels "off," you might ask, "Can you specify what elements feel out of place? Is it the color scheme, the layout, or the typography?"

If the feedback is vague or unclear, ask for specific examples or further explanation. This shows that you’re taking the criticism seriously and want to address it thoughtfully. Clarifying the feedback can also help you better understand the core issues.

If the criticism seems vague or unfounded, don't hesitate to ask for specifics. Seeking clarity shows that you're engaged and willing to work through the feedback. It also ensures that any adjustments you make are targeted and effective. Asking questions not only helps you understand the critique better but also encourages a dialogue that can lead to a more refined design outcome.

At this point, the ideal would be to leave no doubts, the best steps are the initial ones where we can ask everything about everything, clarify our doubts and the doubts of our client. Extracting the maximum amount of information is the initial basis for each project, a good Briefing, a 30-minute meeting with questions that are not very pragmatic or that make the meeting boring.

Many a times clients do have a point when they raise concerns, though they are personal. There is no harm in ammending design to suit their comfort as long as the whole design is not getting affected drastically. Afterall, irs the client who has to stay their.

With an experienced Designer's eye, I agree with some quotes that changes don't hurt, but I also disagree in a certain way. Many changes will cause your project to end up losing its initial "essence", that ignition point where we look and see our work in a beautiful way and bring our ideas to present to the client. In my opinion, we must find clients who look for our ways of creating, our identity for doing our work, our way of presenting and creating new concepts.

When defending design choices, don't just justify, elevate. Offer alternatives that not only address critiques but also enhance the design. This demonstrates your expertise, adaptability, and dedication to excellence. By presenting thoughtful options, you shift the conversation from "my way vs. your way" to "what's the best way?" This collaborative approach shows that you're invested in the project's success, not just your own creative ego. It fosters trust, encourages constructive feedback, and leads to innovative solutions that exceed expectations. By embracing alternatives, you can transform design critiques into opportunities for growth and improvement.

I've run into this with clients quite a bit. It’s key not to take it personally—sometimes they just need a bit of reassurance and to feel heard. There’s no harm in considering their suggestions and tweaking things a bit, as long as you stay true to the original vision. Offering alternatives that address their feedback while still enhancing the design can be really effective. Trust me, it’s all about balancing their input with your creative direction.

Some people like clean sweep By having no accessories cleaning is just a sweep away. I find it great ignorance by not being able to show some sort of piece but then that’s me not the client. If you want no accessories then that is what you’ll have. Please stick to your original requests before putting a trained person to work. This is where down payments are often requested. I can certainly see why. I have no time to waste and I’m sure other Professional Designers don’t either. If your clashes are too severe then feel free to get another designer but the downpayment I keep. Have a nice evening. Enjoy the warm weather.

It’s important to be able to take in relevant feedback and that’s how we grow. One may or may not agree with it. It helps here to take a birds eye view so to speak.

Taking in feedback is always a hard time for a designer. But if you successfully understand their perspective and could make a change which might add on to your creative knowledge, then you have mastered it.

5/ Maintain Perspective → feedback matrix to categorizing and prioritizing feedback based on criteria such as impact, feasibility, and alignment with project goals.

Perspective is important, so is having character and personality. all feedback is important. Once the customer's focus is on the right line, it is easy to achieve results. Breathe, focus, do the best you can.

En equipos interdisciplinarios, tambien sirve conocer y tener en cuenta los intereses de las partes, dado que a veces las criticas responden a mejorar perspectivas particulares en detrimento de otras. El foco siempre debe estar en equilibrar las posiciones sin perder de vista el objetivo macro.

With every single project comes different perspectives and with every different perspective comes a learning and growth. So yes..keep learning, keep growing

Even if you disagree with a criticism you've received there's usually a nugget of insight. What's their perspective, and why are they unhappy with the solution? I like to take a step away and really think about where they're coming from. Your colleagues are looking at the product from a different angle. When the people you work with are willing to be frank with you, that's a gift. Reflect on their perspective and ask to learn about their workflows. You will gain a greater perspective of the company at large and your work will be more effective as a result.

I would say analysis the feedback just like we would analyze the comments for RCA analysis if given the task to understand the drop in ratings of any company's application. Give terms to the feedback to improve the product further. Like difficulty in log in means a technical glitch in the app. so the feedback says the CTA is not clear enough may be it's time to give it a different color.

A lo largo de mi carrera he conocido personas que interactúan con el resultado final de algún dise?o en el que yo haya intervenido. Estas personas me han contado sus experiencias desde su área: Montaje, Operaciones, Mantenimiento, etc., que me ayudan a que cada vez mis dise?os sean más completos, eficientes y efectivos.

We can't forget that very often we will work for people who will dismiss professional advice and act on personal opinions. It is important to let go. This is not your baby - it's theirs. You are there to help to make it as good as possible. Still - look at good designs often. Design for yourself too. Work on projects that fullfil your need for a different standard - keep a balance between client work and personal work. Stay curious, explore and learn new things. Client work is often highly personal and does not limit your ability outside of the project.

Most of the time, the feedbacks you get are from non-designers who actually do not know the principles of design. Being a professional, you should explain the logics and listen to their perspectives. If their concerns are negotiable, you should consider them but defending your designs is one of your key roles.

As my point of view, Every piece of criticism is like a little gift to help me improve. I might see my design choices as top-notch, but I understand they can seem "abstract" to others. Let's agree my choices are bold; even Picasso had critics, right? In the end, we're all aiming to make things not just look good, but work well too! Thankyou

Lee Clow said it many years ago- "The best revenge is a better ad"! I used to follow that till I realised, there is no revenge here. It is work at the end of the day for a client who is paying the bill. Few things to do: 1. Listen. 2. Use logic to convince. 3. If that doesn't work, go back and create a stronger piece of communication. 4. Look for an alternate metaphor or logic to communicate the solution. At the end of the day we are working for a client and however dull the response may seem, either sell the idea or work on a stronger one!

Facing criticism for your design choices requires a balanced, professional response that combines confidence with openness to feedback. Uphold your professional integrity by clearly articulating the rationale behind your decisions, emphasizing the principles and goals that guided your design process. Highlight how the choices align with the project’s objectives, such as functionality, aesthetics, and user experience. At the same time, listen actively to the concerns raised, showing a willingness to understand different perspectives and consider constructive suggestions. This approach demonstrates both a strong commitment to your design vision and a respect for collaborative improvement.

I think good design isn't about arguing your design choices or teaching critics about design principles. The criticism can be incredibly valuable because that can be indicative of how users will interact with or feel about a product or service. So it's important to go beyond the criticism and try to understand a need that your design is either failing to meet and meeting but not explicitly. Users or others criticising a design may not understand design but they likely have a hunch what works and what doesn't. Good design is about absorbing and translating those inarticulated needs into great outcomes and experiences for users.