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Best Practices for UX & Design Feedback

We asked top product designers, UX experts, and founders to share their best practices for providing constructive feedback on UX and design. Below, they offer insights on how to focus on the end user's needs, make suggestions based on data and research, differentiate between generative and evaluative feedback, and provide tips for giving constructive design feedback. We hope these insights will help you improve your design process and create better user experiences.

Focus on the end user's needs​

When providing feedback on UX and design, it's essential to keep the end user in mind.

David Pumphrey, the Chief Executive Officer of Riveraxe LLC, a healthcare technology company, emphasizes the importance of understanding the end user's needs. He says:

One best practice I follow when providing UX feedback is focusing on the end user's needs. As someone who has consulted healthcare organizations on improving their digital experiences, I always consider how changes will impact patients and medical staff.

But how do you determine what the end user needs? According to Pumphrey, the key is to observe and listen:

For example, when redesigning an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system for a clinic, I spent hours shadowing doctors, nurses, and patients to understand their pain points. We then simplified the interface and reorganized our app's menus based on how frequently features were used. Six months after launch, staff reported saving 30 minutes a day navigating the optimized system.

This approach is echoed by Geetesh Nandanwar, a User Experience Lead at Monsoonfish Inc. He emphasizes the importance framing feedback around the user's potential experience:

I avoid making subjective statements like "I don't like this" and instead frame my comments around the user's potential experience. For example, when reviewing a website's checkout process, I might say, "I'm concerned that the 'Continue' button is too small and might be difficult for users to find on smaller screens." This approach helps the designer understand the potential usability issues from the user's point of view, rather than just my personal opinion.

Sometimes, what seems like a design flaw at first glance might actually be beneficial for the user:

I remember a time when I was reviewing a mobile app's onboarding process. Initially, I commented that the initial screen was too cluttered. However, after further analysis, I realized that the clutter was helping users understand the app's key features quickly. By shifting my focus to the user's perspective, I was able to provide more constructive feedback and help the designer make informed decisions.

Make suggestions based on data and research​

Team's perspectives and opinions are valuable, but data and research should be the foundation of your design suggestions. Chrsitian Companion App's Founder, Spencer Christian emphasizes the importance of collecting data from real users through surveys, interviews, and usability testing. This allows the team to gather qualitative and quantitative insights that inform design decisions:

I recall a specific instance during the development of our app. We were refining the interface, and I noticed some features that seemed intuitive to us as developers were confusing to users in testing. Instead of simply suggesting changes based on my perspective, I organized a feedback session with actual users. I watched as they interacted with the app, observing their hesitations and frustrations. Their real-time reactions provided invaluable insights, allowing us to make adjustments that truly improved the user experience. This experience reinforced my belief in putting the user first. ... Whether it’s a casual chat or a structured feedback session, let their voice be part of the design process. You’ll find that their insights can spark new ideas and innovations that you may not have considered, ultimately leading to a stronger product that resonates with your audience.

Differentiate between generative and evaluative feedback​

Joe Post, Vice President of User Experience at ADTELIC, who has led UX teams for almost two decades, emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between different types of feedback based on the design process stage:

In my experience, one of the first questions that should be asked when providing UX and design feedback is, "What kind of feedback are you seeking?" The key bit of insight here is that design often happens procedurally. Or, in other words, there's a process to design. For example, in the early stages of the design process, you may want generative feedback, an exchange of ideas, discussions on the art of the possible, and wild ideas. However, this type of feedback is much less useful in later stages of design. For example, if you are seeking feedback ahead of a client call that's scheduled in 30 minutes, you are more likely seeking feedback in terms of final adjustments, tweaks, and cleanup. Wild ideas and ideation are less valuable at this stage.

Tips for giving constructive design feedback​

Michael Carpenter, a Graphic Designer and Founder of MC Design, shares some tips for giving constructive design feedback:

  • Be specific: Avoid vagueness; pinpoint specific issues.
  • Focus on the design, not the designer: Keep feedback objective.
  • Describe problems, not solutions: Articulate issues without prescribing fixes.
  • Be descriptive: Clearly explain what needs improvement.
  • Acknowledge what works well: Positive feedback motivates.

Additionally, Nicole Leong, Principal UX Designer at Shutterfly Inc highlights the importance of taking into account the business needs when providing feedback:

Be clear and specific regarding business needs. Give feedback that is actionable and constructive. If relevant, include user-research feedback or other data to provide rationale that is not subjective. Build on the strengths of what has been presented, and stay focused on the design versus the designer.

Conclusion​

By embracing these best practices—focusing on the end user's needs, grounding your suggestions in data, and delivering clear, constructive feedback—you'll transform your design process from good to great. So gear up, put on your user-centric goggles, and remember: vague feedback is like a design with Comic Sans—nobody wants that!