How do you give a designer feedback they can actually use?
Describe the problem and the goal — not the pixels you'd push.
“Make the logo bigger” is the feedback designers dread, because it’s a solution to a problem they can’t see. Good feedback names the goal, the audience, and what isn’t working — and leaves the craft to them.
The goal of the piece
What should someone think, feel, or do? Design serves an objective, not a preference.
The specific reaction
“This feels heavier than our brand” beats “I don’t like it” — it points somewhere.
Who it’s for
Audience changes everything. Name them.
Priorities and must-keeps
What's locked (brand, legal, the CTA) vs. open to explore.
Prescribing the fix
“Make it blue” hides the real issue and removes their judgment.
Taste as fact
“I just don’t like it” gives them nothing to act on.
Feedback by committee
Ten contradictory notes with no priority produce mush. Synthesize first.
Late, fundamental changes
Rethinking the goal at the polish stage burns trust and hours.
Reviewing a first draft of a landing page.
Before
I don't love it. Can you make the headline bigger, change the colors, and maybe try a different font? It just doesn't pop. Also add our logo somewhere.
Tuned for Designers
Goal is to get developers to start a free trial — but my eye lands on the hero image, not the CTA. Can we make the primary action the clear focal point? Brand colors and the logo lockup are locked; everything else is open to your judgment.
Have a message to send a designer?
Paste it into Appree and tune it to this channel — same facts, reframed in the voice they’re wired for.
Tune a message →Why don’t designers like “make it pop”?
Because it's a feeling, not a direction. Tell them what should draw attention and why, and they'll know what “pop” means here.
How do I give feedback without being a backseat designer?
Stay in the problem space — goals, reactions, audience, priorities. Leave the solution space (type, color, layout) to them.
How do I handle feedback from multiple stakeholders?
Collect it, resolve the contradictions yourself, and hand the designer one prioritized list. Don't forward the thread.
Search for anyone you need to reach — we’ll point you to the channel, or you can tune a message to them directly.