Where do you seek advice/opinions?

Hello there, Over the last couple months I have kept running in to the exact same problem. I do not know where to get constructive criticism and advice on projects I have produced. I’ve never seen anyone ask on these forums for opinions on projects that are not potential items for TF.

So where do you guys get your feedback from before (1)it goes live (2) Presented to client?

normally I run my projects by other close peers in the business, used to use the forums on StyleGala back in the day (few years ago) when it was good

I ask for opinions my wife first

I have a friend who is also into webdesign and we both criticize eachother. Once I’m pretty satisfied myself I usually show it to close family to ask about their opinions. After some edits I then post it online. I often get great feedback on forums like this one here at TF!

I usually make some “low cost” usability tests. I send it to couple of my friends for review. You wouldn’t believe how much constructive and useful input You can get from people who are not in Web industry.

You wouldn’t believe how much constructive and useful input You can get from people who are not in Web industry.

Exactly! When I see them browsing my website for the first time I notice things like finding the navigation bar and stuff. For instance, I saw some relatives trying to click navigation bars that were displayed in screenshots on my template. They thought it was a part of my website and couldn’t recognize the portfolio part of it.

When I produce templates for TF I put them up on the forum and my followers on twitter, I normally get around 5 or so designers from twitter critiquing my work and a fair amount on the TF forums.

Now when I’m working on my own projects, redesigns, clients etc. I will use twitter again and then use the FreelanceSwitch forum, its all about getting engulfed in the industry, making connections and then you will normally get a lot of people letting you know what they think. FreelanceSwitch is one of the best places to get critique because there are designers on there with years and years of experience and are not afraid to give you constructive criticism. I never ask friends and family because you know they are gonna say they like it even if its crap

Thanks for the response. I find asking peers to be a failure most of the time as 9/10 the project is a group effort and are all seeking the same. The latest project was one of our own websites and was the first I had done myself in a while, when they threw me the buck the get some feedback I was pickled.. sat there for a good half hour just trying to remember where I used to go, who I used to ask.

I never ask friends and family because you know they are gonna say they like it even if its crap

That is the exact feeling I get. Not many of my friends are in the industry so I often get the response, “Thats nice”.

I think freelance switch might be my best bet.

Cheers again!