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Being a graphic designer in the world of growing interest in AI is challenging. Knowing the creativity and effort it takes to create something unique and impactful, graphic designers and their peers might feel overwhelmed by having to meet certain expectations to make themselves seen.
Indeed, the industry is one of the most competitive at the moment, especially since most graphic designers choose to leave the corporate world and start their own ventures. Some are underpaid, others don’t think the job aligns with their expectations, while others simply do not collaborate well with management. The latter usually happens as the art of offering valuable feedback on one’s work is still a mystery to many. Managers who lack communication and presentation skills might believe it will take too long to provide the right feedback or that the interceptor will receive it poorly.
However, this chain of events affects products, customers, and the brand entirely, so let’s examine the impact of adequate graphic design and how to guide your team to achieve your business needs.
Why does graphic design matter so much?
The visual impact of a product or service is the first impression left on a customer. Therefore, it’s also the most impactful because it helps communicate something to the target audience. The lack of proper graphic design for your brand signals an insufficient understanding of consumer behavior and a failure to measure design performance.
These factors can extend to the design of the actual problem, leading to defective and inefficient products. Ignoring the importance of prototyping and validation might even put customers at risk when they buy and use faulty appliances or defective white goods and get injured.
According to solicitor experts, this occurrence can be considered a product liability claim since you, as a brand, breached your duty of care towards the client. Customer rights in Britain entitle people to a refund or replacement for faulty products. But, in these situations, the injured party might be eligible to ask for settlement by understanding how to claim personal injury compensation in the UK.
Management should be as analytic and considerate about graphic design as they are with product design. Therefore, collaborating properly with their designers is vital, especially when it comes to feedback.
How can you offer valuable feedback to your graphic designers?
Effective feedback is not something you achieve overnight, which is why practicing is essential. However, starting as soon as possible and crafting your messages so the graphic designer can fully understand it is necessary. For example, here’s what you could try to achieve in the following feedback session:
- Be more specific. Focus on controllable elements, such as white space or shapes that better indicate your vision than vague directions;
- Be constructive. Avoid overly negative feedback and instead try suggesting the designer a change that better aligns with the brand;
- Be collaborative. Listen to the designer’s ideas and make sure to incorporate their storytelling instead of dismissing it entirely;
- Don’t provide the solution right away. We usually tend to tell others what to do, but describing the visual issue with the design is more appropriate;
Finally, sharing a document with reference images and ideas is the best way to better guide the graphic designer. This will help them produce the final products faster and more efficiently.
What will be the effects of adequate feedback?
While many believe investing time and effort in feedback isn’t that impactful, the truth is far from that. When you care about feedback, you contribute to:
- Professional growth. When graphic designers are appreciated for their work but receive professional feedback, they can self-reflect and develop their skills;
- High design quality. Although graphic designers are going through several drafts before the final product, clear feedback matters in terms of the quality of the design;
- Fast delivery. With continuous constructive feedback, the designer can anticipate some of your requirements for regular clients, leading to rapid product delivery;
- Project alignment. Feedback ensures the graphic designer is aware of the project’s wanted results without hindering creativity and progress;
Therefore, timely feedback can eliminate delays without hurrying the designer, who is prepared to face any challenge due to previous feedback sessions.
What are the contributions of trends in graphic design?
Defining graphic design in terms of theme is challenging, especially since management is subject to subjectivity. While determining whether a graphic design project is objectively good or bad might only be influenced by previous knowledge of the industry, future trends also play an important part.
However, some companies might want to ride the wave of social media impact and try new ideas that are up to date with what new generations want to see. Goofy millennial branding with cute characters and illustrations with real handwriting has become a part of a brand that likes to have a human touch among all these tech-savvy companies, which is appreciated.
Still, following trends in graphic design is like a double-edged sword. It doesn’t help the designer use their creativity, and it also constrains them in terms of what’s trendy at the moment.
What should graphic designers expect for 2025 and beyond?
Regardless of changing trends, some new additions will change graphic design, such as artificial intelligence. The rise of AI-powered designs should not scare real graphic designers but act as a helpful tool to amplify their skills and maximize their creativity.
Another current visual trend is bold minimalism, which combines the cleanliness of fewer elements with the interesting feature of boldness. On the other side of the spectrum, maximalist illustrations are also demanded, as they can capture the audience’s attention when it comes to specific demographics.
Finally, handcrafted designs are currently one of the most appreciated, allowing graphic designers to be more creative through grainy textures, organic lettering, and earthen elements.
Final considerations
Graphic designers can showcase their skills and beautiful minds by coming up with special illustrations and designs, but the current competitive and challenging market is making it difficult to keep up with trends. In addition, management might tend to ask them about the moon ― which can be possible if they offer clear feedback on their work. Being able to communicate clearly and collaborate with your graphic designer is essential to elevate your brand.
