Ep 85 Creativity: How to get and give better creative feedback

Show notes

Giving and getting feedback is one of the most important—and misunderstood—parts of the creative process. In this episode, Stephen Gates breaks down how feedback can make or break your ideas, how to give it without killing the vibe, and how to receive it without spiraling into imposter syndrome. It’s a must-listen for anyone leading teams, presenting work, or just trying to get better.

Key Themes:

• Why Feedback in Creative Work Is Different

  • Creativity is subjective—there’s no single right answer

  • Bad feedback often includes direction, personal preferences, or feels like a personal attack

  • Trust is the foundation of effective feedback

   

• What Bad Feedback Looks Like

  1. Giving direction instead of identifying the problem

  2. Injecting personal taste (“I like” or “I don’t like”)

  3. Targeting the designer instead of the design

  4. Making it personal, not professional

  5. Coming in too late in the process

  6. Leaving people lost and unsure what to do next

   

• What Good Feedback Looks Like

  • Speak in questions, not solutions

  • Focus on problem statements (“this part isn’t clear”) vs. prescriptive changes (“make the button blue”)

  • Respect the designer’s process and experience

  • Build people back up—honesty, not brutality

   

• 3 Types of Feedback to Balance

  1. Objective Feedback – User research, outside opinions, customer data

  2. Data-Based Feedback – Analytics, KPIs, quantifiable signals

  3. Opinion-Based Feedback – Instincts, experience, pattern recognition

   

• Operational Moves That Make Feedback Better

  • Timebox team feedback: everyone gets equal time

  • Clarify what stage the project is in and what kind of feedback is needed (conceptual vs. polish)

  • Recap what feedback was acted on between reviews

  • Engineer the room: don’t let loud voices dominate

   

• For Feedback Givers

  • Be honest but constructive

  • Avoid the “compliment sandwich”—say what needs to be said, clearly

  • Critique impersonally: “Why was it designed this way?” not “Why did you design it this way?”

  • Always say thank you. Gratitude matters.

   

• For Feedback Receivers

  • Don’t respond emotionally—give yourself time

  • Write everything down (or record the session)

  • Ask for clarification when feedback is vague

  • Avoid being defensive—be curious, not combative

  • Practice active listening—hear, don’t wait to talk

   

• When Feedback Conflicts

  • Don’t go with ego—go with the customer

  • Define a team-wide source of truth to resolve conflicting opinions

   

• Get Feedback on Your Feedback

  • Ask peers: Was that helpful? What can I do better?

  • Keep evolving your approach just like you would your work

   

Stephen’s Mic-Drop Reminder:

“Trust is the real byproduct of great feedback.”

Closing Thoughts:

Feedback isn’t just about improving work—it’s about improving people. The best feedback builds confidence, deepens relationships, and pushes the work further. If you want better creativity, build better feedback.

Tagged as:
actionable feedback constructive criticism creative growth creative process creativity impr effective communication empowering feedback feedback pitfalls giving feedback receiving feedback Stephen Gates team collaboration The Crazy One podcast