How growth-mindset designers (and people) receive feedback
Feedback. It’s a word that can elicit a lot of emotions — regardless of one’s profession.
In most corporate jobs, feedback is usually given during regular reviews, throughout the year, or in regular meetings.
For product designers, feedback is not just for special occasions. Rather, feedback is part of your work every single day. Whether you’re presenting early designs to engineers to understand feasibility, or sharing in a design critique, taking on feedback (or questioning it) is key to doing your job.
Throughout my design career, it has been interesting to observe how different certain designers take feedback (and how their careers turn out as a result).
Three types of designers…
- The “I am god” designer
These designers (and people) are combative towards others (even the engineering team). They only share their designs at a very late stage, and don’t feel they need to back their work in research or data. When other designers or their product manager ask them questions, they get defensive and do not listen. They view themselves as better than junior members of the team, and believe that belittling others will put them on a path to success.
2. The submissive designer
This designer agrees with everything other people tell them. If an idea is viewed as not feasible, they don’t ask further questions. Instead, they just allow others to bully them into the easiest solution that may not work or even make sense.
3. The growth-mindset designer
This designer invites feedback and dialogue when sharing their work. They believe that their team want them to do better, and are asking them questions to make their work better. Instead of just taking on feedback, they ask questions and use these answers to build on their work. Additionally, they even ask for others to voice their concerns about the work, regardless of their seniority at the company.
How this applies to your life?
Of the three types, I think its obvious what we’d all like to be — number three. While I have met individuals who have embodied each of the three in the most extreme forms, I think it’s important to recognize that exhibiting traits of designer (or person) #1 or #2 can easily happen.
This week…
After having a meeting with someone consider — am I listening and being kind to those earlier in their journey than me? Am I just assuming everyone else is right, and that I’m wrong? Am I encouraging people I respect to engage with me and my creativity?
