Phoning A Friend: The Power of Peer Feedback
Recently, I decided to make some updates to my personal business cards. While working on a new logo for the front, I hit a creative block. I knew I wanted to place my name between my initials, but I couldn't decide whether to bold the font or keep it light. I liked both options, but the longer I looked at them, the harder it became to choose.
So, I took a few screenshots of the card mockup and texted a friend.
The Feedback
What started as a text to one friend turned into a feedback session. I sent the same mockup to nine more friends and family members with a simple prompt: “Do you like the bold font or the regular font better?”
Then, I opened the question up to even more people by posting it on my private Snapchat story with a poll. It didn’t take long to gather more responses. Some people gave me passionate input on why one version looked better than the other. Others kept their responses short and sweet with a simple “bold” or “not bold.” A few people even admitted they couldn’t tell the difference at all.
From paragraphs of input to clicking an option on a poll, every piece of feedback helped.
What I Realized
After hearing everyone’s thoughts, I realized how powerful feedback can be, even when it’s more informal. The people who elaborated on their answers helped sway me towards bolding the font. They pointed out some things I hadn’t consciously thought about:
The bolded text was easier to read at a glance
It drew more attention to my name, which is the whole point of a business card
More importantly, I realized I was hyperfixating on a tiny detail because I had been staring at my work for too long. It’s a classic creative trap that everyone falls into at some point. The subtle differences I was obsessing over weren’t even noticeable to most people.
That realization alone helped me move forward with my creative process.
What This Taught Me About Asking For Feedback
Don’t be afraid to show your friends your work — Even if it’s just a rough draft, they can still give you valuable insight on where to go.
Know who to ask — Some friends will give you brutally honest, but thoughtful feedback. Others will give you encouragement and validation. It’s helpful to surround yourself with both.
Reciprocate — If a friend helps you out with their thoughts, be sure to return the favor when they come to you for feedback.
3 Quick Tips for Getting Unstuck with Peer Feedback
Share your projects with friends — Even if your work is in the early stages, it never hurts to ask for feedback when you get stuck on a project.
Explain what you’re stuck on — Giving people some context on what you’re doing and what your goal is can help them give you better feedback.
Ask them, “What do you think is missing?” — Giving your peers a clear question to answer leads to more specific, useful input.
The next time you’re stuck on a project, look to your friends for some fresh perspective.
