Comments on: Why You Should Get Feedback, Then Ignore Most of It

By: Steve Roesler

Steve Roesler — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:23:43 +0000

Rob,

Those are, indeed, the two good reasons to get feedback.

In matters of design and anything considered “art”, it might be good to remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

So following up with questions that target usability vs.only “what’s attractive” could be a worthwhile move.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:23:40 +0000

Finally – someone talking sense! Yes, in general, surveys and opinions aren’t much use. You’d really have to narrow down your test group for it to be of any great consequence. Even then, you can’t guess at what motivates the respondent.

By: laurence haughton

laurence haughton — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:34:39 +0000

Sorry… I meant I “wouldn’t” ask direct questions about site design.

By: laurence haughton

laurence haughton — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:44:18 +0000

The biggest reason so much feedback is useless is that few people get any feedback on their feedback. I’ve started telling people when they are vague or so obvious as to be useless (in a nice way of course). Personally I would ask direct questions about site design. I would watch reactions and comprehension.

By: Wally Bock

Wally Bock — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:43:48 +0000

Those are two good points, Rob. Let me add another.

It’s important to pay attention to where the feedback is coming from. Some people have expertise or experience that should lead you to take their advice more seriously or to disregard it more quickly. Consider advice from Arthur C. Clarke.

“If an elderly but distinguished scientist says that something is possible, he is almost certainly right, but if he says that it is impossible, he is very probably wrong.”

By: bdthomas

bdthomas — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:56:38 +0000

In highly subjective areas like web design, colors, or copy why not split test and to see which has the best response.