7 Mistakes Designers Make When Collecting Client Feedback (and How to Avoid Them)

Introduction

Client feedback is the backbone of great design. But when the process is messy, projects drag on, trust is lost, and results suffer. Many designers unknowingly make the same mistakes when collecting feedback. In this guide, we’ll break down the seven most common ones and show you how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Collecting Feedback in Too Many Places

Designers often get feedback scattered across email threads, Slack messages, Zoom calls, and even WhatsApp. This creates confusion, version conflicts, and missed comments.

How to fix it

Centralize feedback in a single platform. With dotts, all comments live directly on the design or file, so you always know where to look.

Mistake 2: Not Asking the Right Questions

If you ask clients, “What do you think?” you’ll get vague answers like “Make it pop” or “Not sure it feels right.”

How to fix it

Guide clients with structured questions:

• “Does this page achieve the goal of increasing sign-ups?”
• “Is this color palette aligned with your brand guidelines?”
  

Using dotts, you can encourage precise feedback by letting clients click directly on elements.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Stakeholder Alignment

When multiple stakeholders are involved, they often give conflicting feedback. One wants a bold font, another wants minimalism. Designers end up in endless revision loops.

How to fix it

Agree on a primary decision-maker early on. Document whose approval is final, and make sure everyone comments in the same tool to avoid side channels.

Mistake 4: Not Setting Deadlines for Feedback

Open-ended feedback timelines mean endless delays. Clients forget, priorities shift, and approvals take weeks.

How to fix it

Always set clear deadlines for revisions. Example: “Please leave your feedback in dotts by Friday at 4 PM.” A deadline creates accountability and keeps the project on schedule.

Mistake 5: Not Providing Context

Designs don’t exist in a vacuum. When clients only see a single static mockup without context, they’ll often misjudge the layout, flow, or hierarchy.

How to fix it

Provide context in your uploads: add descriptions, link to references, or explain the user journey. Tools like dotts allow you to upload entire flows, so clients see the bigger picture.

Mistake 6: Skipping Documentation

Some designers rely only on memory or scattered notes from calls. Without proper documentation, feedback gets lost, leading to rework.

How to fix it

Document every comment and resolution in your feedback hub. With dotts, every revision is tracked, and version history ensures you never lose what was agreed upon.

Mistake 7: Taking Feedback Personally

The hardest mistake to avoid: reacting emotionally to criticism. It’s easy to see feedback as an attack on your skills rather than an opportunity to refine the project.

How to fix it

Shift your mindset. Feedback isn’t about you — it’s about aligning the work with the client’s goals. Stay professional, clarify intent, and focus on solutions.

Why Avoiding These Mistakes Matters

When feedback is structured and centralized, you gain:

• Faster approvals
• Fewer revisions
• Stronger client trust
• Better final results
  

Read more tips on improving client collaboration in the dotts blog.

Conclusion

Most feedback issues come from lack of structure, unclear roles, or poor documentation. By avoiding these seven mistakes and using a dedicated tool like dotts, you’ll save time, reduce frustration, and deliver stronger results.