How do you navigate conflicting feedback from manufacturers and design stakeholders?

1. **Identify Needs:** Understand the problem the design will solve. 2. **Research:** Analyze market trends, user feedback, and existing solutions. 3. **Set Objectives:** Focus on usability, aesthetics, and business goals. 4. **Engage Stakeholders:** Gather input from clients, users, and other stakeholders. 5. **SMART Goals:** Ensure goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. 6. **Consider Constraints:** Account for technical, budget, and time limitations. 7. **Sustainability:** Incorporate eco-friendly materials and processes. 8. **Iterate:** Prototype, test, and refine based on feedback. 9. **Document and Communicate:** Clearly document goals and maintain open communication.

I like to give clients a brief template to fill out. Once they have filled it out and sent it back to me I book a collaborative debrief session together with them. We go through and unpack the initial brief together. Discuss our hopes and fears and define what success looks like. This is all saved in a document that we revisit throughout the project to make sure we are on track.

1. **Identify Sources:** Determine who can provide valuable feedback, such as users, clients, team members, and other stakeholders. 2. **Create Feedback Channels:** Set up mechanisms for collecting feedback, like surveys, interviews, focus groups, or suggestion boxes. 3. **Ask Specific Questions:** Frame questions to elicit detailed, actionable insights. 4. **Encourage Honesty:** Create a safe environment where individuals feel comfortable providing honest feedback. 5. **Analyze Feedback:** Review the feedback to identify common themes, areas of improvement, and actionable points. 6. **Implement Changes:** Use the feedback to make informed adjustments to your design.

1. **Identify Key Needs:** List all identified user and business needs. 2. **Categorize Needs:** Group needs into categories like essential, important, and desirable. 3. **Evaluate Impact:** Assess the impact of each need on user satisfaction and business goals. 4. **Feasibility Check:** Consider the technical feasibility and cost of addressing each need. 5. **Rank Needs:** Prioritize needs based on impact, feasibility, and strategic alignment. 6. **Iterative Review:** Regularly revisit and adjust priorities based on feedback and project progress. 7. **Communicate Priorities:** Ensure all stakeholders understand the prioritized needs and rationale.

1. **Set Clear Objectives:** Define the purpose and goals of the dialogue. 2. **Inclusive Participation:** Encourage input from all relevant stakeholders. 3. **Active Listening:** Practice active listening and ensure all voices are heard. 4. **Open Questions:** Ask open-ended questions to promote discussion. 5. **Safe Environment:** Create a non-judgmental space for honest communication. 6. **Stay on Topic:** Guide the conversation to stay focused on key issues. 7. **Summarize Points:** Regularly summarize key points and decisions. 8. **Follow-Up:** Document the discussion and follow up on action items and decisions.

1. **Define the Problem:** Clearly understand the issue or challenge you're addressing. 2. **Brainstorm Solutions:** Generate a wide range of ideas without judgment. 3. **Research Options:** Investigate existing solutions, innovations, and industry best practices. 4. **Evaluate Criteria:** Establish criteria for evaluating alternatives, such as cost, feasibility, impact, and alignment with goals. 5. **Analyze Pros and Cons:** Assess the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative. 6. **Prototype and Test:** Create prototypes or models to test the most promising alternatives. 7. **Seek Feedback:** Gather input from stakeholders and users on the proposed alternatives.