Great design is driven by great direction. The tricky part is that most people haven’t been taught how to give it.
If you’ve ever sat down to leave feedback on a design and felt stuck, that’s common! Some things are easy to feel but hard to put into words. It’s just part of working with something as subjective as design.
To help guide you giving designer feedback, I’ve outlined five common phrases and a better way to say the same thing. Each one will help you (and your designer) get closer to the result you actually want.
“Make it pop”
I’ll be honest, it’s probably the least helpful thing you can tell a designer. “Pop” can mean a dozen different things: bolder colors, bigger type, more contrast, more movement. Naming the feeling gives your designer something concrete to solve.
Try instead: “The design feels a little flat. Can you use imagery or more contrast to help things stand out?”
“Can you make the logo bigger?”
Most of the time, the actual concern isn’t the size of the logo, but rather more about it being visible. A bigger logo is one way to solve that, but not always the best one. Describing the concern instead of the fix gives your designer room to find the solution that works best.
Try instead: “I’m not sure the logo is standing out enough. Can we find a way to make it more visible?”
“Just copy [competitor]’s site”
I will personally never copy anyone’s site, but if you’re able to point to specific elements you’re drawn to, it can help me understand what you like about it. This helps us get you the result you liked, without giving you a design that looks like someone else’s.
Try instead: “I like [specific thing] about this site: the layout, the tone, the colors. Can we take inspiration from that without copying it directly?”
“There’s too much white space”
White space is one of the most misunderstood tools in design. It’s not empty or wasted; it’s what gives a layout room to breathe and helps the important pieces stand out. If a page feels too “plain” or disconnected, removing white space isn’t always the answer.
Try instead: “I’m afraid the amount of white space isn’t allowing the content to flow together. Is there anything we can do to help make the sections feel more cohesive?”
“Can you make the text [favorite color]?”
Color choices in a design aren’t random. They’re usually tied to contrast, readability, and brand consistency. If a color isn’t quite clicking, let your designer know and they’ll find the right shade that fits both your taste and the bigger picture.
Try instead: “I want the text to feel more on-brand. Is there a color from our palette that would work better here?”
The Design to Dollars Takeaway
Before you give feedback, zoom out. Ask yourself: “What is the purpose and goal of this page, and is my feedback going to help support that?”
The specifics — the exact blue, the exact spacing — are where your designer’s expertise comes in. Your job is to describe the destination. Ours is to help you get there. That’s the kind of feedback that gets us both to a better final product.
Thanks for reading,
