Nothing is more frustrating than being stuck in a creative project, especially when you can’t explain to your graphic designer why you’re stalled. In this post, I’ll give you three questions to ask yourself to help you give better feedback to your designer. They will thank you for it and you will walk away glad you’re no longer in a pothole.

1. What do I like about this design?

Any feedback you give to a graphic designer should be well-rounded. Don’t jump too quickly to all the things you despise. Show them what you like, and they may actually design more pieces according to your taste.

2. What do I not like about the design?

Now, please don’t punch your designer in the face with all sorts of nasty comments. Think constructively about what is not working for you and why. That last part—the “why”—will especially help your designer to think and create with your rationale in mind.

3. If I could change anything about this design, what might I change?

Here’s the fun part. Imagine you’re a superhero with the power to change anything about the design in front of you. Given the goals of your project, and an unlimited budget, what might you change? Obviously, this requires setting aside real constraints like time and money. But thinking without limits can open your project to a world of possibilities.

Ask yourself these questions anytime you give feedback. They will help you get a better grasp of what you’re feeling. And they will also help your designer get on the same page with you.

When I first got these questions from a good friend of mine, I too was feeling stuck. Except, I was the designer and unsure how to lead effective feedback conversations. I’ve used these questions for a few years now. When they are answered completely, projects tend to excel and everyone is happy in the end.

If you are still feeling stuck with your current creative project, I’d love to help you think critically about how to get unstuck. Send me a message today. I can’t wait to connect with you!