You're at odds with designers on content visuals. How do you find common ground?

I think you should give the designers more room to breath. It's like them giving you orders on how to write your content. They're the experts in design, so they probably know what's best design-wise.

To find common ground with a designer when there’s a disagreement on content visuals, start by actively listening to their perspective to understand their creative vision and the rationale behind their choices. Clearly articulate your own goals and the message you want to convey with the visuals. Identify any overlapping objectives or shared priorities, such as enhancing user engagement or maintaining brand consistency. Suggest a collaborative brainstorming session to explore alternative approaches that integrate both viewpoints. Utilize mock-ups or sketches to visualize potential compromises and gather feedback. Emphasize a team-oriented mindset, focusing on the project’s success rather than individual preferences.

To resolve differences with designers, start by understanding each other's goals. Designers focus on aesthetics and functionality, creating engaging visuals, while your priority may be content clarity and message delivery. Discuss content objectives and explain how specific visual elements impact these goals, bridging the gap between design and content. Mutual understanding fosters collaboration. Aligning goals and valuing each team member’s contributions enhances both the final product and team synergy, ensuring design and content work together to achieve the company’s vision.

First, embrace the notion that design is subjective. Varying opinions on what visually "works" to support a marketing campaign or accompany a piece of copy are common, and it's important to convey that to your designer(s). This helps set the stage for a more productive and empathetic dialogue about what design elements you believe are effective and where there's room for improvement. Clearly point out what can built upon, instead of just focusing on what's not "working." That said, don't beat around the bush to avoid having a difficult conversation. Be kind but candid; I've found the best way to communicate your feedback clearly AND allow room for collaboration is to reference visual examples and ask designers for their input.

The strongest relationships between content strategists and designers emerge when both groups allow for mutual exploration. Taking turns testing out theories or approaches gives everyone a chance to demonstrate their skills and strengths, and cultivates professional respect and continued growth (as a team and as individuals). Even better when these tests result in successful outcomes; collaboration flourishes and trust is established, allowing for further confidence in each other's respective areas of expertise. This sweet spot is where I've found the most magic happens: the team listens to one another more openly, works together more harmoniously, and creates compelling, creative work more effortlessly.

To find common ground, we must start by understanding the designers' points of view. Then, express your own point of view in a clear and constructive manner. Explain what concerns me in their proposals and propose alternative solutions. Demonstrate open-mindedness and flexibility. The goal is to find a solution that satisfies everyone. Use visual collaboration tools to facilitate communication. Online platforms make it possible to share ideas, annotate images and collect feedback in real time. If you are unable to find common ground on your own, do not hesitate to hire an impartial mediator. An outside eye can help you find a compromised solution that respects the needs of all stakeholders.

I love this question. It happened to me so many times. A frank and continous hosmosis with the technical team is crucial. It is important be open and listen to their ideas and advice. But at the end of the day, you are the one who should take the decision, you should know where the project is headed and take the responsibility, and to ride out the storm.

A mí criterio el punto en común se pierde cuando se prioriza lo estético versus lo funcional. Se olvidan del aporte a las audiencias que recibirá el mensaje. Así que es este uno de los criterios que más pongo en práctica al momento de trabajar con diseñadores.