When Feedback Hurts (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

I used to take feedback personally. When someone critiqued a design I worked hard on, it felt like they were questioning me not the work. But over time, I’ve learned that discomfort in feedback is actually a sign of growth.

Some of the best turning points in my designs came from tough feedback. The kind that made me pause, rethink, and realize, "Oh, they’re right. I didn’t consider that." That sting? It’s your ego being replaced by insight.

Now I try to invite feedback as early as possible. I ask open-ended questions like, "What feels off to you here?" or "Where would you expect this to go?" It’s never fun to hear that something doesn’t work but it’s way more valuable than silence.