Stop Asking for design feedback -without telling us what the problem is!

Hands up if you’ve ever seen posts like this requesting design feedback.

“Which logo do you prefer?”
“Which flyer stands out more?”
“Vote A or B—help me choose!”

Yeah, me too. And honestly? It drives me a little bonkers. They pop up in Facebook groups, Slack channels, business groups, and sometimes even in client briefs. They’re missing the most important part.

Context.

Design isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about purpose.

When you ask someone to choose between two designs without telling them:

Who the audience is
What action the design is meant to drive
Where and how it will be seen
What problem it’s trying to solve

Then you’re not asking for feedback—you’re crowdsourcing opinions based on personal taste.

The thing is personal taste is wildly unreliable in design.

I had a client years ago who really wanted to use a specific colour in her logo because it was her child’s favourite colour. Sweet? Absolutely. Strategic? No! I had to gently explain that in design, it’s not about personal preferences—it’s about what resonates with your audience, fits your brand, and serves your business goals.

What works for a vegan food truck’s flyer won’t work for a fintech investor.
What’s effective for 22-year-olds scrolling TikTok may completely alienate Gen X buyers.
What pops on a printed brochure might fall flat on a mobile screen. You get the idea.

Context is Everything.

If you’re going to ask for design feedback, you owe it to yourself—and the people replying—to set the scene.

Who is the design for?
What’s the goal?
Where will it live?
Why was it made this way in the first place?

When you give that kind of context, you’re inviting people to give design feedback that’s actually useful—feedback that aligns with your objectives, your users, and your medium.

Otherwise, you’re just collecting random opinions—and design feedback deserves more than that.

Design isn’t decoration. It’s communication. It’s function.

Think of your design as a tiny salesperson. It has a job to do! Is it clearly telling your ideal customer what you offer and why they need it?

When you strip away context, you reduce a strategic decision to a popularity contest—and that’s a dangerous way to design.

By all means, engage your audience. Ask questions. Test ideas. But if you’re truly looking for useful feedback, give people something they can respond to with insight, not just instinct.

Otherwise, your post might as well say:

“Pick which one looks prettier to you today.”

Instead of asking ‘Which flyer?’ Try some context “We’re launching a new organic dog treat aimed at busy millennials (mostly seeing this on Instagram and in local pet stores). Flyer A focuses on playful illustrations, while Flyer B uses clean photography. Which one do you think will resonate more and drive clicks to our website for a special launch discount?” See the difference?

Working Together Diving Deep into your Business.

I know I am obsessed with research, understanding the customer, and speaking directly to their needs but this is what informs design! Each designed piece has a goal and should be designed towards that end!

That’s why, when we work together, you’ll feel like I’m asking a million questions, (those of you who have worked with me know this all too well, lol).

I want to know your goals, your audience, your challenges—everything. It’s not because I’m nosy, but because understanding the why behind your business is the absolute foundation of good design. However when you’re designing something on your own or seeking feedback, it’s easy to skip these questions. You might just want to “get it out there,” focusing on speed over strategy. However, without considering what your flyer or design is trying to achieve, you risk missing the mark.