Navigating the "Friends and Family" Effect

As a graphic and website designer, I've encountered a phenomenon I like to call the "friends and family" effect. This happens when someone gets close to the end of a project and decides to show it to their friends and family. While the input of a few trusted people can be valuable, it can also lead to some challenges.

Firstly, if you ask someone for their opinion, they're going to give it to you. Very few people will simply say, "It looks good." Most people inherently want to contribute and feel that their opinion matters. While this desire to help is well-intentioned, the feedback can sometimes be less than helpful.

A professional designer considers a myriad of factors that your neighbor Carol might not. For instance, how will this design print? Will it look good on a screen as well as on a billboard? A professional designer typically has years of experience that friends or family members may lack.

Therefore, while it's fine to show your new logo or website to a trusted person, be selective about whom you choose. Simply throwing it up on Facebook for any and all to see can cloud your judgment and make you second-guess decisions you've already made.

Remember, thoughtful feedback from a few trusted individuals is more valuable than a multitude of opinions from everyone you know.