Figma itself is a pretty well-rounded tool used by the majority of pros in the design industry, but it doesn’t have everything (looking at you, spellcheck). To make up for the gaps, we use several Figma plugins to make using the software just a bit easier.
Straight from our UX design team, we’ve identified eight incredibly useful Figma plugins that we use on a daily basis.
SkewDat is a neat little tool that gives designers the surprisingly useful ability to skew just about everything on a Figma design in real time. Bring depth to your designs to enhance your project, and SkewDat lets you do this without stressing about the small details.
One, two, maybe nine layers need to be skewed to present? Not a problem. Lean on this plugin to do the heavy lifting, and you’ll do the rest.
Contrast serves an important role in ensuring a design looks good no matter what display it’s on. This Figma plugin allows professional designers to double-check one key element with relative ease – accessibility.
You’ll need to manage:
It can be a designer’s nightmare getting the contrast just right, but the Contrast Figma accessibility plugin takes some of that headache away by showing you exactly what you need to know, when you need to know it.
Optimize your design workflow by automatically cutting the amount of text you have per line. You can join or split text at any time using this plugin, or assign it to a hotkey and make your work that much more efficient. Take ownership back in your designs by limiting exactly how much text goes where.
Imagine if it takes you 10 seconds to adjust the text on a line. Doesn’t sound like a lot, right? Well, that time adds up. This plugin does a great job of cutting down on excess time and reducing the amount of re-work you might end up doing otherwise.
Animations are made easy using Aninix, and our UX design team uses this to effectively create animations in Figma files. While it is in a beta state at the moment, it’s still extremely adaptable and gives you access to intricate keyframes alongside other animation staples.
The intuitive interface allows pretty much anyone to create a complex animation in a Figma file without the hassle.
The best part is, when you’re done you can directly export your files to .lottie, .mp4, .webm, or .gif to streamline your exports.
UI Faces makes it a tad more simple to sympathize with the users you’re designing for. The reason being, it grabs a photo based on the various parameters you set. Use it as a profile placeholder, or simply have it to the side. This way, you can put a face to a list of design necessities. Take the guesswork out of the equation with UI Faces.
This one is pretty self-explanatory at first, but deep down it’s really a complex organization of systems that work in tandem to… create tables. Really, though, this plugin is a no-brainer addition to Figma that seems like it should just exist naturally.
Just insert the parameters you need and this plugin will output a table that’s 100% customizable for anything you’d need. Time-saving and efficient, we’re all about it.
Another straightforward plugin, Charts does just what it says it does. It can put out either an area, line, pie, scatter, bar, or really any other chart you might need for a design. Configure your mix/max values and set up each chart exactly how you want.
It’s an efficient way to make your designs pop out that much more without designing a chart from scratch.
Saving the best for last, this comes in handy when in a pinch. After you crop or resize an image, just run this plugin and your image is right back to normal. The best part is, you can select multiple objects and have them restored all at once.
Great for those exploratory moments that don’t go according to plan. Can’t get a social media graphic in just the right place? Not a problem, this Figma plugin is in your corner.
There are thousands of Figma plugins to choose from, and you’re more than welcome to explore to find what works for you. Managing your time can make or break a project in the long run. These eight tried-and-true Figma plugins are just a few that our professional design team uses to design, prototype, and create your digital product’s fresh look.
Want more info on how we do things? Drop us a line and we’ll work alongside you to polish your project.
Need your site analyzed? Our researchers are on top of it. Maybe you just want to rebrand your site? Our designers have your back. Anything from the front end to the back end, we can swing in anytime.
Remember, it’s a jungle out there and CreateApe can be your guide.
There are awesome UX design examples all over the internet, but we’re here to show you WHY they’re great!
If you’re familiar with UX or not, it still has a big impact on the success or failure of your site. It’s not just about bringing in new users—but also showing them around your site and keeping them coming back for more.
A successful UX design usually has these three things in common:
The proof is in the pudding (or, more accurately, this stats blog from websitebuilder.org).
Basically, UX design (when it’s done right) gives you an excellent leg-up on your competition. Always put yourself in the user’s shoes to figure out the best way to get them from point A to point B.
Our UX design examples will show you the basics of how CreateApe guarantees a great user experience and how you can do something similar for your site.
What’s the main goal of someone visiting a commercial real estate website? If you said “To search for available properties,” then we’re on the same page!
This design for Matthews Real Estate leaves no room for ambiguity. The messaging is clear, and it’s the first thing you see when you open the page.
We also satisfy two different users in one toggle switch. This lets the user view properties for sale or for lease.
View Web Development Case Study
Empathizing with your user means understanding who they are, why they’re visiting your site, and how they’re feeling.
Seeking treatment for an eating disorder is scary and stressful for patients and family members alike. That’s why we wanted Alsana’s site to be as inviting as possible.
The purpose of Alsana’s website is to inspire hope for recovery instead of selling treatment plans. Because it's paired with seamless navigation, the user feels less anxiety while finding help.
Do you hate scheduling doctor visits as much as we do? Create an effortless way for your patients to book appointments again and again.
We designed an appointment portal with a short and sweet form for Perpetual Motion Physical Therapy. This takes away the burden from the patient while helping the client pull in new users.
We also went the extra mile and added a page of accepted insurance plans. This lets the user know they're covered before they even have to ask.
Stand out from your competitors by including a unique website feature that helps users achieve their goals.
Think about how you can make your services more convenient for the user. Medikeeper creates products for employee wellness, so how could they help businesses keep track of employee wellness through COVID-19? By developing a handy virtual screening app!
Having a great idea is just the first step. The best UX design examples need to be as easy to use as they are innovative and timely.
We designed a streamlined survey with friendly illustrations to check for symptoms and give the user suggestions for the next steps if they are at risk.
Personalization is huge in UX design because it shows the user that you’ll give them a great experience by tailoring your solutions to their individual needs.
The onboarding process is crucial in creating personalized experiences—but instead of setting up a profile for your user, treat onboarding as an opportunity to get to know them!
Onboarding is especially important when creating e-learning platforms like Wurrly.edu. Here, we built the user’s dashboard around the information they gave us during the onboarding process. This is so we can show the content most relevant to their needs first.
Making your website mobile-friendly is more than just copy/pasting your site on a phone screen.
A smaller screen means less space and less time to meet the user's needs. To make your mobile experience as strong as the web, restructure your content to show the most important things right away!
Think of your mobile design as a hierarchy. Ask yourself, “What is the main reason a user would come to my website?” Now, make that the first thing they see and make it fit into a smaller space.
This UX design example for Viesso puts the user’s needs front and center. They should be able to understand what your site is all about right away.
View Web and Mobile Design Case Study
Minimalism will probably never go out of style (at least in UX design).
Just because a design is simple doesn’t mean it has to be boring. In fact, with an uncomplicated design, it’ll be easier to communicate with your user and help them solve their problems.
Looking at these UX design examples from Soleo Communications, you can see that a crisp, white background goes a long way. It’s an easy way to group things together and helps your secondary colors (accents and CTAs) pop!
Every design choice you make should have meaning behind it—to help the user solve a problem. But that doesn’t mean “don’t be creative.”
UX and UI go hand in hand because they cover everything the user interacts with on a website. When your design is both usable and good-looking, you create a lasting impression with your user while giving your brand a chance to shine.
Once you have a solid navigational experience in place, ramp up your design with interesting content, original iconography, and maybe some fun animations!
Web design trends will come and go, but UX is here to stay. By empathizing with the user and designing FOR them, we can help them solve their problems and build trust—which is good for your business, too!
Following these UX design examples will help you create a memorable experience that your users won't soon forget!
Need some help improving your user experience? Check out our web design and development services to see how CreateApe can help.
For some UX/UI designers, presenting UX research findings is the most challenging part of the job. You’ve gathered all your information and spent countless hours conducting tests and interviews…how do you turn all that data into an action plan that gets your clients on board?
Several things could get in the way of a good presentation. Too many glaring problems with the digital product, harsh user feedback hurting some feelings, unclear next steps, lack of confidence in public speaking, or a meteor could crash into your house and land directly on your computer (weirder things have happened).
But to start the design on the right foot, you need a slam-dunk presentation to get the ball rolling. How do you lay out the facts, engage your client, gain their trust, and compel them to act?
Unfortunately, we’re not psychic apes (as cool as that sounds). We don’t have a crystal ball to look into your future and tell you exactly how the presentation will go.
What we do have is TONS of experience with UX evaluations and presenting our findings to clients. Whenever there’s been a curveball, we’ve found a way to meet it head-on and knock it out of the park.
In this article, we’ll outline a few potential challenges you may encounter when presenting UX research findings. Rest assured, for every challenge, there is a CreateApe solution!
Communication is paramount for any collaborative project between a vendor and a stakeholder.
No client is ever going to hand you a project and say “Go nuts!” Their company is vital to them and they are investing too much time and money into a product that puts them on the map. To us, gaining our clients' trust means they need visibility every step of the way.
UX presentations are our way of pulling back the curtain, giving the client a glimpse of the unknown. A UX evaluation shows specific problems that need to be fixed to keep their business on the right track, and the presentation gets everyone on the same page.
But it’s not just for the clients! Think of a UX presentation as an outline for a big speech. It helps you make sense of your findings and lay them out in a way that really tells a story. The facts and user feedback are compelling on their own, but it’s up to you to turn them into something tangible.
It also gives you time to plan your next steps before starting the design. You can lay out your priorities in order of importance, pick the low-hanging fruit, and improve your own processes for the next presentation.
Now that we’ve convinced you of how AWESOME UX research presentations are, you probably think you’re going to go in there, crush the meeting, and not run into any trouble.
You totally could! But, things can always go wrong. We’ve all had a flat tire on our way to work or spilled coffee on our favorite pair of pants — things happen, it’s a fact of life.
Presentations never go 100% flawlessly without questions or pushback. Here are just a few ways you can streamline your presentation, engage your audience, and prepare for roadblocks.
Meeting with creative teams is exciting for clients, but going over numbers and data usually isn’t. How often have your eyes glazed over while listening to speakers go over metrics and charts?
While numbers aren’t typically engaging on their own, the data you gather during a UX evaluation are the eye-openers clients need to improve their products. You can’t do a UX research presentation without hard-hitting data.
As the kids say: “Read the room.”
You’re not connecting with your audience when you’re just clicking through slides and reading off numbers. Your presentation needs to appeal to their interests, whether it’s increasing their conversions or improving their branding to reach a new demographic.
Presenting UX research findings to clients gives you an opportunity to flex your storytelling skills. Understanding your client’s desires is as critical as understanding the user’s goals.
“Your target users were visiting your website, ready and rearing to request a demo of your SaaS system. But they don’t have time to scroll through your whole website to find the form they need. Your users became frustrated when they couldn’t find it right away — and as a result, 95% of them abandoned ship.”
How much more interesting does that sound than “95% of the users leave the website before starting the conversion process”? Demonstrate the problem by emphasizing the user’s journey.
We’ve all seen an article online that didn’t agree with our point of view and gave it a quick scoff or eye-roll before scrolling by. Don’t lie, bias is just a part of our human nature.
Sometimes clients can be a little stuck in their ways without knowing how much it’s hindering their product. But as tech evolves, so do best practices. What worked best in 2002 definitely isn’t going to work in 2022.
It’s up to us UX professionals to show clients the way, and the numbers don’t lie. Both qualitative and quantitative data show the value of your work while breaking down the processes that lead you to your conclusion.
Quantitative data is the “what”, while Qualitative data is the “why.” The client needs to understand the weight of both before they confront their own bias.
After all, we’re the experts. This data lends us authority and gives us the know-how to create a successful product. If the client can visualize what’s not working and why it’s driving away their users, they’ll be more inclined to make the changes the product desperately needs.
For many clients, their profit is their bottom line. If they’re investing in UX design, then they already understand that satisfying the user’s needs is the way to continue growing and making money.
Unfortunately, the user and business goals don’t always intersect perfectly. The user could be looking for a feature that is out of the business’ capabilities or a cheaper solution that would not benefit the client. How do you find compromises that appease both stakeholders?
Empathy is the name of the game in UX design, for both users AND clients. All our stakeholders need to know we have their best interests at heart for us to gain their trust.
It’s also super helpful in battling the confirmation bias we mentioned earlier. The client needs to understand that when we present findings that don’t mesh with their methods, it’s all in the name of helping their bottom line.
When we empathize with both the client’s and the user’s goals, it’s much easier to think critically and present solutions that serve both stakeholders.
UX presentations are only a short part of our client’s day. We gather plenty of data during UX evaluations (sometimes enough for an hours-long presentation), but we only get a limited amount of time to go over our findings and address questions and concerns before kickoff.
As much as we’d like to spend our whole day doing a collaborative working session with our clients, they’re just too busy. How do we show them that their product is in capable hands without presenting every single piece of data we collected?
Target data points that capture the big picture. No matter how much information you collect, chances are that presenting UX research findings can be summed up in a few main points. The rest of your findings will likely fall under the same umbrella as the main ones.
It’s all about how you structure your presentation. You can’t just rattle off all your data points and expect your audience to be invested all the way. Keep it tight by focusing on the three or four most compelling points, and lump supplemental findings under those talking points.
User feedback also helps you illustrate the problem by letting the client see things from their user’s perspective. You can present tons of data about why something isn’t working, but nothing hits home quite like the user telling them “This navigation makes absolutely no sense.”
Gathering all the data and putting the presentation together is the hard part…now comes the next steps. You know what’s working and what’s not, how do you actually tackle the problem?
The client needs to know exactly what the next steps are to be fully on board. Give them the confidence they need with creative solutions and a solid plan of attack.
At CreateApe, everything we do is backed up by research and findings from past projects. It gives us the validation we need to know we’re making the right changes.
Your clients are trusting that you’re the expert when it comes to user experience. Come armed with a plan that shows you’re invested in the project and prepared to make it a raging success.
Address the easy fixes first to get the ball rolling. Things that can be remedied quickly to improve the existing experience without having to wait for the final project. Then, lay out your long-term plans (new onboarding flows, features, total website face-lift, etc).
Even the most engaging and exciting speakers still need visual aids. Think of the last TedTalk you watched…was the speaker just standing there waving their arms around or did they have slideshows or props to help bring their words to life.
Sometimes visuals say so much more than words ever could. Not only do they illustrate the problem you want to solve, but they also provide more value to your presentation by giving your audience something to chew on in between numbers and written content.
“75% of your users didn’t scroll past the top section of the page” is an eye-opening statistic on its own, but how much more effective does this look?:
Here, the client can see the activity on the page and where users are trailing off. This is the wake-up call they need to restructure the content of the page and lead with the user’s main goal. Bing, bang, boom…problem solved.
You can also get creative while presenting UX research findings. Think about including some before and after shots to show off your design chops. Give them a little taste of what’s to come. Abstract data visualization is also super hot right now, so incorporating some out-of-the-box charts and interaction design couldn’t hurt either.
It's not enough to convince your client of the value of UX. They need to visualize the product's pain points and see a solid action plan before they confidently invest their time and money.
Knowing what to present is half the battle. When all of this important ground is covered, all that's left is letting your personality and UX-pertise shine. Pace yourself, lean on data, gain the client's trust, and kick your partnership off right!
Want to see what a UX/UI facelift can do for your site? Need some help convincing the higher-ups of the benefits of UX? Start a project with us today or swing into our jungle for a UX evaluation!
AI tools for UX/UI designers…friend or foe?
Like it or not, AI is here to stay. But we have a long, LONG way to go before its creative-thinking skills are on par with a UX designer. Hopefully, we’ll never experience the dystopian nightmare that is autonomous AI.
But what do we do until then? Embrace the change!
AI had a significant impact on employee productivity in the last few years. This LinkedIn article estimates that strategic AI implementation has cut operational costs by 30% through task automation and boosted overall efficiency by 40%.
Do you know what that means for creatives like us? More energy to focus on pushing the envelope with our designs!
But reducing the time we spend on tedious tasks isn’t the only benefit. With the right systems and prompts, these AI tools for UX/UI designers can help us streamline workflows, generate new ideas, and curb the brain blocks and burnout synonymous with our field.
We know what you’re thinking…”Why should I work AI into my design process when I’M the one with creative capabilities?”
At this point, you may have dealt with a client or a stakeholder that would rather cut costs and let AI do all the heavy lifting. You may be tired of having your skills undervalued in comparison. But truth be told, AI is only as good as the person entering the prompts.
AI relies on user input to gather information, spit out results, and refine based on feedback (find out more about how it works in our “Will AI Replace UX Designers” blog).
In short, a UX designer needs to tell the AI what the users are looking for through our research and findings for it to generate workable solutions.
With all the different platforms designed for information architecture, art direction, coding, and writing, all the tools to become a more well-rounded designer are at your fingertips. But it needs YOUR creative direction to produce your unique product vision.
By learning how to talk to the AI and influence the right response, you can drastically reduce the time it takes to ideate and consider some options you haven’t even thought of. Plus, mastering these systems can help you fill gaps in your skill set and create a fully-realized product to present to your clients.
We’ve talked up AI a lot in this blog and previous ones, but we haven’t touched on specific tools we use here at CreateApe and would recommend to other UX Designers.
These are just a few of our favorites. Keep in mind that AI is still in its infancy, and some of these products may not work perfectly the first couple of times. Or you may find another system that serves the same purpose but fits better into your workflow.
The trick is to keep an open mind and play around with different tools until you find one that works best for you (or until you can guide it into giving you the results you want). Also, with new AI tools for UX/UI designers releasing frequently, keep your ear to the ground for the latest advancements!
As you can see, we think AI tools are a valuable asset for UX/UI designers, providing opportunities to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and generate new ideas.
While some of these products are still working out kinks, they significantly support and augment our busy, multi-tasking workflows. By strategically leveraging these eight tools, we’ve reduced tedious tasks and expanded our creative horizons as a team.
The key lies in understanding how to work alongside AI effectively. Recognize that it’s only as good as the input and guidance you provide. By mastering these AI tools for UX/UI designers, you can optimize your workflow, fill skill gaps, and deliver fully-realized products to your clients.
So even if you’re hesitant about AI, play around with a few systems and see how they can help you improve your processes. Who knows, you may find yourself taking a liking to a specialized field in UX/UI design through AI exploration!
If you’re looking for a fun agency job where you can use AI to take your designs to the next level, we’re always looking to add talented new apes to our shrewdness. Check out our open positions and apply today!
What do you and five billion people have in common? Notably, you’re all on the internet. 63% of the human population has the potential to see your business online, so how can your website design branding stand out?
Think like this: a website brand speaks volumes about your personality. What makes things stick out to you? How do you, personally, want to portray yourself?
We’ll revisit this topic later, but for now, learn how to shape up your website design branding strategy.
It’s one thing to understand what makes your brand stand out, but defining your guidelines is another vital part of the puzzle. Create a solid baseline to allow your company to understand exactly what to do to match your brand.
When you look at a new Apple phone on the shelves, you’re certain the product will look sleek and modern with a decent chance that you’ll keep the box after it’s opened.
Their website is no exception. Apple uses negative space to enhance the visual appeal of their newest products, further emphasizing the modern feel of Apple devices.
Above all, their style is consistent. If you put a colorful mascot on the Apple landing page, it would look severely out of place.
One other example you’re likely to recognize – Nike tacks their logo on just about every product they have. Even though the word “Nike” isn’t always visible, the trademark swoosh lets the world know exactly what brand they’re dealing with.
Looking to make your site content up to 180% more engaging? Just add visuals! Tailor your site to your branding image to leave a lasting impression.
Online marketing has the perk of being highly adaptable. Change it up however you see fit, but create an engaging webpage to keep your visitors interested.
Here’s our website redesign for PMPT, a business all about keeping you moving.
In this case, we streamlined their website design to allow for a more efficient user experience in setting up appointments and navigating the site. Your visuals should be appealing, but not obstructive to the user.
Website design branding is more than creating a good-looking website – it’s about making an informed decision to craft a product that works for you.
If you’re looking to buff out your designs, check out how we can enhance your brand.
One of the many keys to effective website design branding is in your text. Keep your viewers reading by organizing your ideas and sorting those ideas into easy-to-digest snippets.
For reference, long and wordy paragraphs might work for a research paper, but if you’re aiming for a broader audience, then keep it short and to the point.
Remember: less is more. Nothing turns away online visitors like walls of text, so spread out your paragraphs to keep your visitor reading deeper into your site. Break up your text into easy-to-read paragraphs and allow yourself to use vocabulary that suits your audience.
Overall, the focus should be on creating a comfortable user experience.
The purpose of a title is to get your visitor’s attention and read what comes after. Good content hierarchy allows for quick recognition of topics that your audience would like to read.
Once you have your content separated, split it up some more. Break up your text into readable snippets formatted as a bulleted list.
Then, structure your text around being as visibly appealing as possible. Short and to-the-point sentences keep your audience’s attention.
At this point, we’re mostly all familiar with Wendy’s Twitter marketing strategy and the many attempts to replicate it. The fast food chain created a definitive voice that puts them near the top in terms of creative online marketing. They remain memorable to customers by being consistently witty and snarky, but they never go overboard.
While Wendy’s developed their voice to reach a target audience that aligns with their identity, if you apply this persona to a high-end restaurant, it likely wouldn’t go so well.
Reason being, they broke a few rules to reach their brand’s voice. This is 100% okay since that’s the style nuance they chose. Your brand can also reach this by understanding what works for you.
For example, a hair dye company might use incorrect grammar to sound casual and laid back. On the other hand, a bank would use proper corporate language to look professional.
All words have a story to them, and it’s just a matter of you choosing the right ones for the job.
We would guess that there’s a smartphone nearby while you read this article. To be more accurate, there’s roughly an 84% chance that’s true.
Nothing says “professional” like having a responsive website – a design that seamlessly adapts to smaller screen sizes. Always remember that as your brand grows, more people will check out your website on the go.
And when we say “more people,” we mean that nearly 60% of all web searches come from a mobile device. Bumping up your mobile website design branding has the potential to skyrocket your influence.
Maximize your opportunities to spread your brand by ensuring the mobile version of your site is well-tested and optimized for smaller devices. Your visitors are ready to go, and you should be too.
As we said before, there are a lot of people on the internet. So understanding your target audience is valuable for moving your website in the right direction.
Use analysis programs like Google Analytics or Hotjar to get your user’s information. For example, if you have a low engagement rate with organic users then you’re not hitting your target market.
This means that if your visitors see your site from a Google search and don’t find what they’re looking for, they’ll leave.
Take a look at your analytics to get a better understanding of who you’re dealing with. For example, if you’re aiming toward the older crowd but your average visitor is a 19-year-old male, you need to revamp your site’s design.
Once you get a good idea of who visits your site, you can get into the details of how to market directly to them.
If someone told you that you could make 33% more money by using the same words, would you take them up on that offer?
The reality is: viewers are more comfortable with a consistent brand. Even using your signature colors could even boost your brand’s recognition by 80%.
However, proper website design branding has a few extra steps when it comes to building that recognition.
Every site has consistent aspects to it. For example, the buttons on your website should do exactly what they imply. A “buy now” button should always lead to the purchase page.
Given the same context, this call to action (CTA) should be the same everywhere else on the site.
This doesn’t only apply to your CTAs. Throughout your brand identity, you’ll notice consistencies that your visitors recognize.
Now, apply this thought process to the rest of your website. You name it: banners, buttons, CTAs, structure, visual style, etc. Again, consistency is key when establishing a connection with your visitors.
Take another look at your website design branding. How do you want to portray yourself? Bold, casual, professional, or laid-back? Each of these pieces come together in a way that paints your image in the public’s eye.
Every section of this blog post represents another piece of the problem when creating a unique and identifiable brand.
Each step to website design branding is like a Rubik’s Cube. It’s a relatively common comparison in digital marketing because each stage has a specific purpose. For example, suppose you attempt the standard 3x3x3 puzzle without a specific method. In that case, solving it could take you between 20 to 43 quintillion tries. Branding isn’t any different.
Naturally, successful branding can be done without research. It just takes time and a little bit of luck.
If you’re looking to make your own luck, CreateApe is here to solve your marketing puzzle. We’ll use our tried-and-true processes with a team of experts to investigate, ideate, and create your next big idea.
Get in touch to get your branding right the first time.
Ahhh, UX Design Critiques…Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they’re a vital part of guaranteeing our designs are the best they can be.
As much as a designer wants their creation to be 100% their vision, we occasionally need outsider perspectives to help us spot flaws or reconsider user goals to ensure we’re fulfilling the product's purpose.
Though 92% of people believe constructive criticism helps them improve their overall performance, many employees (in any kind of work setting) struggle with taking and giving it. But why is that when the majority acknowledges its importance?
It all comes down to how it’s delivered. What seems constructive to the giver could be construed as pointed or downright bullying to the receiver (in vice versa).
The fact is that interpersonal communication skills influence the delivery and usefulness of our feedback. So, how can you ensure that your criticisms land just right and lead to actionable next steps?
UX design has a few too many moving parts for a single designer to handle on their own. Chances are that multiple team members, from interaction designers to web developers, will touch the project to ensure everything works as intended.
Even if a product requires several team members, everything has to gel together to create a cohesive experience.
By building a collaborative culture where cross-functional teams can offer diverse perspectives and keep each other aligned, critique sessions become a valuable asset in communication and risk mitigation.
In layman’s terms, design critiques (when done right) help your team feel supported and spark ongoing learning. And isn’t that what every designer wants out of their career?
Plus, the more your team shares tips and tricks with each other, the better the products will be in the long run. Through frequent critique sessions, designers and developers can continuously improve their processes and methodologies, leading to higher efficiency and cost-effectiveness (project managers, hint hint).
With as many benefits as critiques have, you may wonder “How could anyone hate getting feedback on their work?”
Listen, digital product designers are artists. And we’re a sensitive bunch! There are a few (valid) reasons why someone would be apprehensive about getting their work criticized:
Critique sessions should be a safe space where everyone can share thoughts and not feel judged. The goal is to create an environment where no idea is a bad idea, kind of like an initial brainstorming session.
But how can you manage a collaborative critique session (where nothing’s off the table) and still remain productive?
Organizing a smooth critique session requires a lot more than just gathering participants. To keep things moving, the meeting organizer should limit the number of participants to the project team and a few design leads. A smaller audience allows people to focus on the big picture and leave space for everyone to share their thoughts.
Unfortunately, critiques can’t always be intimate affairs between close colleagues. So whether your meeting involves a select few or the entire organization, here’s what you can do to facilitate a structured, productive session:
Creating a no-judgement zone for constructive feedback is easier said than done. After all, the success of your session hinges on factors outside of your control.
It’s not just about the criticisms you give — it’s about how the receiver interprets your feedback and the active participation of everyone in the meeting. It’s more than strategizing products and design processes, it’s an essential team-building exercise that contributes to the ongoing success of your company.
Now that we’ve illustrated the pivotal role of critiques, let’s talk about ways to improve interpersonal communication through criticism.
We get it, you’re not out to hurt someone’s feelings when you’re critiquing their work. But being vague or sugarcoating your feedback won’t lead to actionable takeaways.
Now, we’re not telling you to rip someone’s designs to shreds. Instead, try a balanced approach to your criticisms. State the positives, but highlight the drawbacks (sometimes known as the compliment sandwich).
By offering measured and straightforward suggestions, you’re giving the presenter clear feedback, helping them understand the exact issue you’re trying to convey without completely tearing them down.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. What you don’t know is what you don’t know! If you’re critiquing a project you’re not involved in (or the person presenting is handling a different aspect of the project), you might not fully grasp the presenter’s thought process.
If you’re unsure about an approach, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification or further insights. Remember, designers immerse themselves in data throughout the project. They may have sound reasoning or verified metrics to support their design decisions.
Design critiques are just as much about user experience as the products we create — and nobody wants to feel like they’re solving a problem alone. Instead of explaining “what” is wrong and “why” it’s wrong, suggest alternatives and work through their blockers.
By transforming the critique session into a collaborative problem-solving opportunity, you’re encouraging a mindset of "we're all in this together,” where everyone bounces ideas back and forth to find the best solution.
This is also a chance to define user testing flows (or A/B tests) to see which solutions work better for the intended audience. Because you never really know what target users will respond to until you get the product in front of them.
Between iterations and client suggestions, it’s easy for the user’s needs to get lost in the shuffle. That’s why we need our team members to hold us accountable and help us remember the problems we’re trying to solve.
When critiquing a design, referencing research findings and user data bridges the gap between subjective opinions and objective reality. It also helps the designer understand that something could make sense to them logically, but not to the person they’re designing for.
When you present suggestions rooted in user research, you're not just offering opinions but contributing to the user-centered design process. This approach reminds your team of the shared commitment to creating designs that meet user expectations.
Asking open-ended questions during a design critique sparks critical thinking, detailed feedback, and in-depth discussions within the team. Think of them as a thought experiment to improve product designs.
Open-ended questions don't have a single, specific answer. Instead, they invite the designer to provide context, rationale, and insights into their design choices. They also help designers feel less self-conscious about getting involved since there are no wrong answers.
This open-ended approach prompts the designer and other participants to consider various scenarios and user perspectives, leading to a richer discussion.
We all have our own opinions on what looks and feels better. But we’re rarely the exact persona we’re designing for. So if you hate a color, trend, or phrase, it’s probably not useful feedback (unless you can find verifiable evidence supporting your bias).
User-centered design places the user's perspective and needs at the forefront of the design process. Its name alone acknowledges that what may be appealing or intuitive to one person may not necessarily align with the preferences and expectations of the target user group.
Remove your biases to ensure that the design solutions discussed in the critique are grounded in evidence and objectivity, creating a laser focus on the end user instead of personal whims.
While written critiques serve their purpose, especially for asynchronous communication and documentation, they don’t capture the depth and immediacy of in-person or video meetings.
In-person or video meetings provide an environment where participants can socialize, read expressions, sense tone, and communicate the purpose behind their feedback. Since we know how easily context gets lost over text, face-to-face meetings don’t leave as much room for misinterpretation.
These methods ensure that the intent behind the feedback is accurately conveyed, leading to a more productive and collaborative critique session.
Yes, giving feedback can be uncomfortable sometimes. But let’s not forget that the receiving end can also throw us for a loop, especially when we’re so invested in a project and showing it to someone who’s not as involved.
We can be told to remove our egos from the situation a thousand times, but there’s still that feeling of disappointment when our hard work doesn’t go to plan. Don’t be upset with yourself when you feel this way — it happens with the best of us.
Here are a few tips to help you cope with negative feedback and turn it into something positive:
In the ever-evolving world of UX design, one thing remains constant: design critiques are necessary to ensure that our designs reach their full potential.
Designers often invest their hearts and souls into their creations, but the input of outsiders can help spot flaws and realign user goals to fulfill the project's purpose. While many still struggle with giving and receiving it, the key to effective critiques lies in the delivery and communication skills involved.
By mastering the art of design critiques, designers can create a culture of constructive feedback and continuous improvement, ultimately delivering better user experiences.
Design critiques are not just beneficial for team-building; they are a valuable tool in the UX designer's arsenal for success. So go forth, critique, and (as usual) be kind.
It’s a jungle out there — let the Create Ape experts help you traverse the wilds as we take your project to new heights.