ISSUE 17
Dear Students,
Last time, we talked about asking better questions.
But there's another part of that conversation that's just as important.
Who you ask matters.
Students often show me a design and say:
"My roommate likes this version better."
"My boyfriend thinks I should make the logo bigger."
"My mom doesn't like that color."
And my first question is usually:
"Why?"
Not because their opinions don't matter.
But because an opinion and informed feedback are not the same.
Everyone Has an Opinion
Design is interesting because everyone can react to it.
You don't need a design degree to know that you like something.
Or hate it.
Or think something feels confusing.
And those reactions can absolutely be valuable.
But here's where designers sometimes get into trouble:
We treat every opinion as if it carries the same weight.
It doesn't.
If you're struggling with typography, someone who understands typography can give you more useful guidance than someone choosing the font they personally like best.
If you're preparing a file for a commercial printer, your friend who has great taste isn't the person you should be asking about bleeds, color modes, or file setup.
If you're trying to improve your portfolio, someone who has hired designers can probably tell you things your roommate can't.
That doesn't make one person more important than another.
It means different people bring different kinds of knowledge to the conversation.
Ask the Right Person the Right Question
Here's where it gets a little more complicated.
Sometimes the person who knows nothing about design is exactly the person you should be asking.
Imagine you're designing a website for a retirement community.
Your target audience doesn't need to understand typography, hierarchy, or user experience design.
But they can tell you:
"I can't find where to schedule a tour."
That's incredibly valuable information.
They've identified a problem.
What they may not be able to tell you is how to solve it.
That's your job.
The same thing happens with branding.
Someone in your target audience might say:
"This doesn't feel like a company I would trust with my money."
Pay attention to that.
But if they follow it with:
"You should make the logo blue and use a different font,"
now they're moving from identifying the problem to prescribing the solution.
Those are two very different things.
Listen carefully to the problem.
Then use your expertise to determine the solution.
Look for Experience
There will also be times when you need guidance from someone who knows more than you do.
Find them.
If you're struggling with typography, talk to someone who understands typography.
If you want to know whether your portfolio is ready for the industry, ask someone who has reviewed portfolios or hired designers.
If you're preparing files for print, talk to someone with print production experience.
If you're preparing for your first client presentation, ask someone who has sat in that room before.
You don't have to figure everything out by yourself.
One of the smartest things you can learn to do is recognize when someone else's experience can help you.
Be Careful Who Gets a Vote
Here's something I wish more young designers understood.
You don't have to make every change someone suggests.
Feedback is information.
Your job is to decide what to do with it.
Listen.
Ask questions.
Look for patterns.
Consider the person's experience.
Consider whether they're part of the intended audience.
And most importantly, bring everything back to the problem you're trying to solve.
If five people tell you they can't find the most important information on the page, pay attention.
If one person tells you they don't like orange because it reminds them of a restaurant they hate, you probably don't need to redesign your entire project.
Learning to accept feedback is important.
Learning to evaluate feedback is just as important.
Final Thoughts
You will receive thousands of opinions over the course of your career.
From professors.
Clients.
Creative directors.
Coworkers.
Friends.
Family.
And complete strangers.
Listen to them.
But don't give every opinion equal weight.
Ask yourself:
What does this person know?
What perspective are they bringing?
Are they part of the audience?
Are they identifying a real problem?
Do they have experience that can help me solve it?
The goal isn't to surround yourself with people who agree with you.
It's about surrounding yourself with people who help you see what you can't yet see.
The people you ask determine the answers you receive.
Over time, those answers help shape the designer you become.
Choose them carefully.
In design truth,
Maggie
