Just had to write a quick post to say that:

I LOVE FEEDBACK!

The other night, I had about 3 cover/web designs (at various stages) going on at one time. One of my homeschool pals happened to be hanging out online in search of something to do, so I asked her to do an image search for me.

She did a really great job!

I gave her the product specs, and links to my favorite stock sites for image searchin’ – and from there… she went “in search of!”

She pulled some really awesome images. Almost the first one she pulled – was of a piggy bank on top of a book. The subject matter was how to publish your own book on a budget. My buddy Jen is ALL about budget – so when I saw that image – I bought it.

Then we went through a number of different images that she found, and I picked a mom reading to her child for the other image. Header didn’t come out as planned, but at least I had the idea down.

Here’s why I love feedback…

I sent an email with header attached – off to my client, KNOWING I wasn’t exactly sure if I liked it or not. When they replied back (client and co-client) – I got better ideas. They wanted to replace the mom and child image to better target their market.

This I understand.

Once I had a bit better idea of their target market – I found a different image for the right hand side of the header. Then spiffed up the background – and added a shape with a cool layer style to place the main title text on.

Then I tried the text in just a flat black – and wallah – looked much better than the first header. The second header is about 7 times better than the first – because I got some decent feedback . That helped me revise the header so that it looks a lot better.

Hmm – wondering if I should add the headers I’ve been working on  here, and if I do – they will be very small.

Ok, you want to see it – I know – and since you have no clue who my client is at this point – I guess it’s OK.

Here’s a look at my first draft header – BEFORE FEEDBACK:

Publishing Header For Unknown Client!

and here is a look at the #2…  revised header I created after feedback:

Publishing Header - version 2

BRB…

All right, sorry about that.  I’m BLOGGING, and I think I am in chat.

What a goofball!

Anyhow, hope you can see the difference in the headers shown above. As with any graphic jobs – sometimes I hit the first draft right off – other times I miss the mark.

It’s up to YOU as a client to say “hey – let’s change this image” or “can you add a different background” or “can you make the text stand out better?”

Know what I mean? When you look at your images sent by a graphic person, you want to be able to say YEP love it, or nope don’t like it. And be able to know why.

THEN – be able to relay all that to your designer. Communication that is key – the banter back and forth… that’s how you get a better set of graphics.

Hey, sometimes I hit it right on the first time around – which is  good for BOTH of us! That doesn’t always happen, but it does happen a lot of the time. I think that may be because clients don’t feel comfortable giving good feedback.

Either that or I’m just good.

Seems like every time I get good feedback – the graphics get better!  Just be mindful of your graphic person’s time on changes  of course. Folks like me juggle a lot of different hats at one time, and not just at “work!”

But I gotta say – nothing like great feedback to get better designs!

Thanks!
Michelle