Getting feedback as a product designer

[Original video] As a product designer, getting feedback is a make or break skill. It's important to have the humility to listen to feedback and act on it in order to level up your craft. Here’s my tips on how to get comfortable with feedback, structure design reviews, and reflect on who you're getting feedback from.

Getting comfortable with feedback

Getting comfortable with feedback can be a challenge, but it's important to be proactive and take ownership of it. I suggest starting small by picking a teammate and asking for feedback in a low stakes situation. This helps to build the muscles of feedback and shows your teammates that you care about their feedback.

Structuring design reviews

When it comes to design reviews, it's important to put the same level of intentionality into how you solicit feedback as you do into the design itself. I suggest having a problem statement, selecting a format for the meeting, and telling people what specifically you want feedback on. I also recommend using the "Rosebud Thorn" technique, which involves discussing the roses (beautiful parts of the design), the buds (opportunities for improvement), and the thorns (issues that don't work well).

Reflecting on who you're getting feedback from

Another suggestion is reflecting on who you're getting feedback from and how you feel about it. If you're not getting the feedback you need, it could be a matter of needing to provide more structure or it could be something bigger that's out of your control. If you feel like you're not gelling with how things work, it could be time to move to another team or take a break and reflect on the situation.

Conclusion

Getting feedback as a product designer is a make or break skill. It's important to be proactive and intentional about how you solicit feedback, structure design reviews, and reflect on who you're getting feedback from. By doing this, you'll be able to get the best feedback possible and level up your work.