How Creative Teams Benefit From Markups and Comments Feedback
- Adilla
- 12 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Giving visual feedback needs to be approached with efficiency and precision. When executed effectively, it can elevate work quality and improve team collaboration. However, poor feedback can cause a domino effect that could potentially derail the entire project.
This article shares practical tips for effectively using the right type of visual feedback. This way, you can communicate your vision better while providing actionable feedback that aligns with the creative process. Thus, fostering a collaborative environment.
Table of Contents
Differences Between Comments and Markups
While both function in a similar way, each serves a different purpose. Here is a comparison table on markups vs comments:
Markups | Comments |
Visual marks and cues like highlights, underlines, shapes and arrows | Text-based notes and explanations, including annotations |
Draw attention and visually pinpoint specific elements | Provide a detailed explanation and suggestions in a discussion |
Quick, specific feedback | Detailed instructions and guidelines |
Benefits of Markups and Comments Feedback
Markups Feedback
Set Actionable Insights with Clarity: When feedback is specific and comes with actionable suggestions, creatives can refine their work with no further clarification needed. For example, when there’s a markup that highlights a specific detail to be changed, they can focus on that straight away.
Improved and Streamlined Collaboration: Markup tools help streamline feedback by providing a universal language that both creatives and non-creatives would understand. Utilising visual elements can bridge the gap to help ‘translate’ your vision rather than design terms that you’re not familiar with.
Comment Feedback
Provides Context and/or Positive Reinforcement: Suitable to be used as a general note during feedback sessions when nothing requires specific attention. Comments don’t only have to be used for suggestions, as they can also provide positive reinforcement. For instance, creative leaders can comment something like, “The shading in this scene works with the transition to the next scene.”
Gives More In-depth Explanation: To prevent clutter in markups or for record keeping, comments can be utilised for long-form discussions. When there are big changes required, markups may not be suitable to convey more detailed text-heavy feedback. For example, annotated comments are like sticky notes without needing to add extra comment threads or visual markings that could clutter the document.
Why Visual Feedback Is Important for Creative Teams
Communicating in ‘visuals’ is speaking in a language creatives understand. Feedback that comes with graphic cues reduces revision cycles and accelerates decision-making. Thus, visual feedback eliminates endless revisions by providing clear, actionable feedback. The effort that creatives experience from vague feedback burdens them more than the work itself.
Additionally, visualisation can convey complex design concepts. For example, when graphic designers require feedback that involves elements like design assets, typeface and colour templates, finding the right words to offer actionable feedback isn’t easy. Visual feedback is the bridge to minimise misinterpretation that could lead to cycles of revisions and a source of creative burnout.
3 Best Practices When Giving Creative Feedback
To ensure feedback and review sessions are fruitful, there are a few best practices you can implement when giving visual feedback. Here are a few practical tips:
Give Specific and Precise Visual Feedback
Highlight specific elements to prevent vague statements. Utilise markup tools to directly highlight their work using different colours or shapes to clarify the context of your feedback. For more complex ideas, make your feedback contextual by pairing your suggestions with reasons and detailed explanations of what you would like to see in the revisions.
Offer References and Actionable Suggestions
Besides being specific, your suggestions should come with visual references and actionable suggestions that the creative can act on. Stakeholders’ preferences stated verbally may not be enough for creatives to visualise the expected outcomes. So, visual references can pivot creatives in the right direction to fulfil goals and expectations.
Leverage the Right Tools
An efficient workflow relies heavily on the tool your team uses. At first, it may seem that it comes with a cost. However, if the return on investment (ROI) is positive, selecting the right collaborative editing or design feedback tools can enhance your entire operation, not just the feedback or review processes.
Tools That Support Visual Feedback
When looking for software for visual feedback, prioritise tools that can markup, comment, and record.
Figma
This collaborative interface design tool is ideal for creatives working on user interfaces for digital products. It facilitates real-time teamwork and creative feedback and streamlines the handoff to developers. Consequently, collaboration is smooth, and comments are specific.
Filestage
An online proofing and review tool that centralises visual feedback like videos, designs, and documents. It allows teams to give contextual comments, markup, and directly tag their teams on the files. Additionally, it is suited to be used as a central hub for client feedback.
TESSR
A multi-use creative project management software with a tool that allows collaboration and feedback. This module enables the team to practise a detailed feedback standard, including options for adding markups and comments.
It can be marked in different colours or shapes, and use the frame marking feature for marking sections in animated clips or videos that can be referenced directly in comments. Meanwhile, comments can be set in various formats, including checklists and numbered lists, to enhance clarity for action items.
How Visual Feedback Reduces Burnout
Provides a Sense of Purpose and Progress
Well-explained visual feedback reduces burnout by providing a sense of purpose and progress. Review sessions support both personal growth and the project's goals, for example, when the outcome shows results through an increase in engagement or conversions. This leads to a visible impact on a project or a business to validate their effort and make them feel motivated.
Thus, feedback indirectly prevents burnout by giving the feeling that their effort is worthwhile, boosting a sense of fulfilment and satisfaction.
Celebrates Achievement
The recognition of your progress helps a feeling of validating their hard work and contribution. In a way, it gives a reminder that what they put into their work is valued and appreciated. Feedback and review sessions can give that extra boost of motivation.
Improve Teamwork and Empathy
Feedback sessions give the opportunity for other roles or departments to see each other’s work and an in-depth look at how they execute it. This opportunity promotes respect and empathy for their work while strengthening their bonds with one another. This helps creatives feel heard and valued, making them feel supported and less isolated. Thus, lowering the risk of burnout.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I give feedback visually?
Suggest changes with visual examples to deliver your idea. You can also add markup to a screenshot or screen recording as you point out which area requires feedback.
Should I use comments or markups first?
There’s no general rule which comes first, as it depends on what you’re giving feedback to. However, combining both methods will better explain your message and intention.
How do creative teams avoid feedback chaos?
Feedback chaos can be avoided by establishing a structured process for feedback and review sessions. Ensure that expectations are clear and are aligned with the project’s goals.
Author Bio
With a background in Arts English, Adilla has been a casual writer for various hobbies, like parodies of animated shows and plots for board games. She loves to read anything and everything from fantasy stories to articles on tips and tricks. Now an advocate for mental health and effective project management for the creative industry. Currently, Adilla resides in Malaysia and is a creative writer at TESSR. To know more about her, check out her LinkedIn.
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