That’s shit!
As a designer, some of the best feedback I ever received was “that’s shit!”.
Sometimes it was said in jest. Sometimes the provider meant it.
Sometimes they were right. Sometimes they were wrong.
Either way, the default assumption that I might have missed something, or I could do better, is a healthy one. It kept me on my toes, eager to push myself as hard as possible, hungry to develop new ways of finding a solution.
A thick skin
It also helped me develop a thick skin. Crucial for a designer. A good designer needs to be able hear a user, client or colleague tear their work to shreds, and have the ability to calmly explain the thinking, the process, or simply why it’s great - not 'shit'.
Sometimes these exchanges are amicable, sometimes heated. But, without fail, they lead to a better outcome. The difficult path, negotiating compromise between stakeholders, almost always helps ensure a design is catering to the right people, issues and requirements.
Our duty
It’s our duty to be expert negotiators. Ambassadors for an open, flexible and well-explained process.
So, next time you glance at my screen, tell me my work is shit! I’ll be ready.