In short
- Design feedback is about details, and video lets you point at the exact one you mean instead of describing it.
- Structure every feedback video the same way: context, what changed, what you need from the client.
- Zoom in, move the cursor slowly and show one screen at a time: the client should never wonder where to look.
- End with a question the client can answer in one line, not with "let me know what you think".
- Ask clients to send their feedback by video too: their Mac, iPhone or Windows PC can already record the screen.
A design feedback video is a short screen recording where you walk through a design and say, out loud, what works, what changed and what needs a decision. It replaces the long email with screenshots and red circles, and the call booked just to point at things. Most of these videos run two to four minutes and end with one clear question.
It works in both directions. You can present a revision to a client, and you can ask clients to send their feedback the same way. This guide covers both.
Why design feedback works better on video
Design feedback is about small things: a margin that feels tight, a heading that wraps badly on mobile, a shade of blue that looks different next to the photo. In writing, each of those needs a screenshot and a paragraph. On video, you point and say it.
Video also carries tone. “The hero isn’t working yet” can read as harsh in an email. Said with a smile, followed by “here’s what I’d try”, it’s a normal conversation.
And it keeps the reasoning. When the client asks in a month why the button is green, the answer is in the video, in your words.
Agency to client: showing what changed
When you send a client a revision, they want to know three things: what is this, what’s different, and what do you want from me. Answer them in that order.
- Context. Which design, which round, what it responds to. “This is round two of the product page, with the changes from Monday’s email.”
- What changed. Walk through each change in the order the client will meet it on the page, from top to bottom. Show it, name it, say why in a sentence.
- What you need. The decision you’re asking for, and by when. Then stop recording.
Two habits make this much clearer:
- Say the number of points up front. “Three changes, then one question.” The client knows how long to pay attention.
- Compare when it helps. If a change is subtle, show the old version for a second, then the new one. Before and after explains more than any description. For full revision rounds, see how to present a design without a meeting.
Revision round, product page
Sending round two to the client · About 2 minutes
Hi Marco, here’s round two of the product page. Three changes from your notes, then one question.
First, the price is now right under the product name, so you see it without scrolling. Second, we moved the reviews above the description, as you asked. Third, the “Add to cart” button stays visible on mobile while you scroll. Here it is on a phone-sized window.
My question: are you happy with the reviews above the description? If yes, we’ll apply the same layout to all product pages this week.
Point at details, not at the whole screen
The most common problem in design feedback videos isn’t what’s said. It’s that the viewer doesn’t know where to look.
- Zoom in. Record one frame or one section at a readable size, not a whole artboard where the text is a blur. In the browser, zoom the page before you record.
- Record a window or an area, not your whole screen. On a Mac, ⌘⇧5 lets you record a selected portion. It removes your dock, your other windows and the temptation to wander.
- Move the cursor slowly and stop on the detail. Circle it, then hold still while you talk about it.
- Say what you’re pointing at. “This gap, between the title and the photo.” It helps clients watching on a phone, where the cursor is tiny.
- Draw on it if you need to. An arrow or a circle on screen is clearer than a cursor wiggle. Our guide to drawing on your screen while recording on Mac shows the options.
Recording designs in Figma and the browser
Most design feedback happens in two places: a design file and a live page.
In a design tool, show the design the way the client will experience it, not the editor. Hide the panels if your tool lets you, or present the prototype so the client sees the page and not your layers. Check you’re on the right version before you start: recording round one by mistake is easy when the file has five pages of iterations. We go through the details in how to record a Figma prototype walkthrough.
In the browser, record a clean window: no bookmarks bar, no tabs from other clients, no extensions asking for attention. If the design is responsive, show the mobile width as well, because that’s where most layout feedback lives. The guide to recording a website in the browser covers the setup.
End with a clear question
This is what decides whether you get a useful answer today or a vague one next week.
| Instead of | Ask |
|---|---|
| “Let me know what you think.” | “Are you happy with the new header? Yes or no is fine.” |
| “Any feedback?” | “Of the two colors, which one do you prefer for the button?” |
| “Thoughts on round two?” | “If this works for you, can you confirm by Friday so we can start the inner pages?” |
One question per video is ideal; two is the maximum. Repeat it in the message that carries the link, so a client who replies without watching to the end still answers the right thing:
Hi Marco, round two of the product page: three changes from your notes, about 2 minutes. One question: are you happy with the reviews above the description? If yes, we’ll use the same layout on all product pages this week.
https://justrec.app/v/k3f9Qa
There’s more on closing questions in how to get client approval faster.
Client to agency: asking for feedback by video
Client feedback by email often arrives as “the top part feels a bit off” or a screenshot with no explanation. A 60-second video from the client, scrolling the page and talking, usually tells you more.
Most clients have never done this, so make it easy:
- Tell them it’s optional. A written reply is still fine. Video is for when it’s easier to show.
- Tell them how. On a Mac: ⌘⇧5, choose an area or the whole screen, Record. On an iPhone: Screen Recording in Control Center. On Windows 11: a video snip in the Snipping Tool.
- Tell them what to say. Show the part, say what bothers you, say what you’d like instead if you know.
- Tell them length doesn’t matter. A shaky one-minute recording is more useful than a perfect email that never gets written.
Put it in the message that goes with the design:
Hi Laura, here’s the new homepage, with a short walkthrough. If it’s easier, feel free to send your feedback as a screen recording: just scroll the page and talk us through what you’d change. On a Mac press Shift-Command-5, on an iPhone use Screen Recording in Control Center.
A written reply is perfectly fine too. Whatever is quickest for you.
https://justrec.app/v/k3f9Qa
The same approach works for bugs, where a client recording saves hours of guessing. See how to get clients to report bugs by video.
Turning video feedback into a task list
A video is a great way to give feedback and a poor place to keep it. After you watch a client’s video, or after they reply to yours:
- Write the points down as a short numbered list.
- Send the list back: “Here’s what I understood, correct me if I missed something.”
- Use that list, not the video, as the brief for the next round.
It takes two minutes and prevents the “that’s not what I said” conversation in round three.
For where design feedback fits among all the other client videos you send, start from our guide to async video for client communication.
Sources
- Apple Support: Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac, checked November 2026.
- Apple Support: Record the screen on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, checked November 2026.
- Microsoft Support: Use Snipping Tool to capture screenshots, video snips on Windows 11, checked November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How do I give design feedback by video?
Open the design, record your screen and voice, and walk through it in three parts: the context, what changed or what you noticed, and what you need. Point at each detail with the cursor and end with one specific question.
How long should a design feedback video be?
Two to four minutes is enough for most review rounds. If you have more than five or six points, split them into two videos or group them by page.
How can a client send feedback by video without special software?
On a Mac they can press Shift-Command-5, on an iPhone they can use Screen Recording in Control Center, and on Windows 11 the Snipping Tool can record a video snip. They then send you the file or a link.
Should I show my face in a design feedback video?
It helps when the feedback is sensitive or the relationship is new, because tone is easier to read on a face. For a quick list of fixes, a voice over the screen is enough.
