When Non-Designers Think They’re Designers: A Humorous Guide to Respectful Feedback

We’ve all been there—working on a design that’s a perfect blend of creativity, strategy, and coffee-fueled inspiration, when suddenly, your favorite non-designer swoops in with, “Hey, can you make it pop?” Design feedback from those outside the field can be like getting driving tips from a backseat passenger—it’s coming from a good place, but, uh, maybe let us handle the wheel, yeah? Take it from someone that has been on both sides of the table; as a designer and a manager I know firsthand how each side feels. This isn’t to roast non-designers; it’s to remind everyone that while feedback is welcome, expertise should be respected. Here’s a fun look at how we can all stay in our lanes...without running each other off the road.

1. The Dunning-Kruger Effect: When a Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way until it Doesn’t

You know that feeling when someone knows just enough to think they know everything? Welcome to the Dunning-Kruger effect (Dunning & Kruger, 1999). It’s like watching a cooking show and suddenly deciding you’re ready to challenge Gordon Ramsay. In design, it often looks like a non-designer confidently saying, “Let’s make it more… blue” because they watched a ten minute video on YouTube about color in design. Or a personal past favorite I heard often when I was just a young sapling designer, “it needs to feel warmer.” Huh?!! Want to really annoy your designers? Just keep giving vague feedback without any framework or context anchored in at least fundamental marketing, design, UI or UX principles. Sound familiar designers? Frustrated yet? Been there and heard all that believe you me. But the “feel warmer” feedback took the cake. They mean well, but they’re overlooking the years of experience that go into those color choices.

2. Feedback is Not a Free-for-All: Respect the Expertise

We get it—everyone has opinions, especially when it comes to visuals. But it is like they say, “opinions are like…” well you get it. Let’s just say everyone has one but there is no need to be more crass than that. This is a family friendly blog post after all. Let’s say instead that it’s like picking a restaurant; everyone’s got a favorite spot but the designer is trying to get everyone in the car fed all while taking into account that Bob doesn’t like spicy food, Jill has a gluten allergy and Sarah has IBS and no one in the car likes pasta except Wayne. There is a lot going on but then there are the hundreds or potentially millions of other people that may be consuming your content or your product and the designer has to think about them too. But here’s the thing: design isn’t just about looking good; it’s about function, user experience, and strategy (Reynolds, 2014). Oh yeah folks. Let’s read that again out loud. “S-T-R-A-T-E-G-Y!” See you’re getting quite the education here without even having to read designer-language. Additionally, designers have the training, the education, the experience and for many an innate gift of knowing when to apply what, where, why and how. You can’t just opinion yourself into understanding all that. Want to really annoy your designers even more? Just keep giving vague feedback without any basis in fact or experience. Non-designers, your input is valuable, but designers are the ones trained to turn ideas into effective solutions. Trust the pros to know the difference between a passing trend and a design decision that holds up under scrutiny.

“It needs to feel warmer.”

Want to really annoy your designers? Just keep giving vague feedback without any framework or context anchored in at least fundamental marketing, design, UI or UX principles.

3. Opinions are Gold… When They’re Not Trying to Be More

Let’s be real—opinions matter (well some of them anyway), and sometimes fresh perspectives spark great ideas. But like any good relationship, there’s give and take and not all opinions are equal in weight. Just like recipes do not take the same amount of each spice. “Just add one tablespoon of salt, one tablespoon of vanilla, one tablespoon of nutmeg, one tablespoon of cayenne…” Uhhhh??? Hold on. This doesn’t sound like a lemon meringue pie at all. It sounds like a culinary apocalypse waiting to happen. So no. Every spice (non designer) opinion will not be or should not be honored. Sorry Sally in accounting. The actual designer has been baking this dish for decades and formally trained to do it and unless there is something germane you’re bringing to this dish, please forgive the designer for the face they make while you’re speaking and offering up your non-solicited opinion. Okay that’s just a little side joke. Or is it?

Non-designers, think of your feedback as adding a little spice, not remaking the entire recipe. Designers are the head chefs in this kitchen, blending taste with technique, and sometimes, it’s best to let them add that final pinch of salt. Sometimes it’s a good idea to just say “Yes Chef,” when the designer speaks. Designers appreciate the seasoning suggestions, just not a total takeover of the menu because non-designers… menu designing isn’t your lane. Designers implore you to stay in your lane. The designer may ask you for directions on where you want them to go but it doesn't mean they want nor need you to drive because frankly, you’re not a great driver. Just like you don’t get to fly the plane just because you chose every leg of your trip and paid for the flight. No one wants you landing or taking off. Buying that ticket didn’t make you a pilot no matter how many times you fly per year.

4. Looks vs. Logic: Don’t Forget the Bigger Picture

Sure, aesthetics are important, but design isn’t just about pretty colors and trendy fonts. It’s like saying a car looks great without checking if it has an engine. Non designers believe that most creatives sit around with color crayons and paint brushes and have fun all day. It’s so much more complicated than that. Designers consider usability, accessibility, and functionality—the things that make a design work, not just good looks (Brown, 2009). So, when you find yourself focusing on that exact shade of mauve, remember, the designer is juggling a whole lot more than just the paint palette. Preach!!!

It kind of brings the attention to AI in an indirect way doesn’t it? You have a whole bunch of non-designers who thought they stumbled upon the holy grail. But AI may end up being a crutch for all the skills, training, experience and education they lack and not in a good way. What they end up with is a mashup of disparate whack-a-mole concepts that never lives up. It’s a faster way to create trash in non-designer hands.. Check out the “AI Can’t Fix Stupid” https://www.wilrandolph.com/blog/ai-cant-fix-stupid blog post for all the skinny on that. If that sounds like we’re shilling our own blog post then yeah; you’d be right and we make no apologies for it.

5. The Art of Timing: Offer Feedback, But Not at the Eleventh Hour

Late feedback is like trying to change the script on opening night. It’s not just inconvenient; it can derail the whole production. Offer your thoughts early, but be mindful of the workflow. Designers don’t mind revisiting a project, but let’s avoid the last-minute costume changes, yeah?

Wrap-Up: We Love You, Non-Designers—Just Don’t Forget Who the Designer Is!

We’re all in this together, and some of the best ideas come from unlikely places. So, non-designers, keep sharing your thoughts! But also, give a little nod to the designer’s expertise. They’re not just coloring in the lines; they’re making sure the picture works, connects, and speaks volumes. So let’s collaborate, but remember whose crayons we’re borrowing.

References:

• Brown, T. (2009). Change by Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation. Harper Business.

• Dunning, D., & Kruger, J. (1999). Unskilled and unaware of it: How difficulties in recognizing one’s own incompetence lead to inflated self-assessments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(6), 1121-1134.

• Garr Reynolds (2014). Presentation Zen Design: A Simple Visual Approach to Planning and Design. New Riders.

Let’s create something great together—no backseat driving required!