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 feeling uncomfortable when receiving feedback is often a sign that I’m growing.

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 moment of discomfort? It’s not a failure, it’s usually the beginning of a new perspective.

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.