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WorkflowCraft conventionIntermediate

Design Critique

Structured feedback against stated objectives, which is a different activity from a decision meeting.

Definition

A critique is a session where a designer presents work and colleagues give feedback against explicit objectives and constraints. It is not an approval gate and it is not a vote.

Craft convention. True because the industry converged on it. Breaking it costs familiarity, not correctness.

On this page
  1. Definition
  2. Structure that works
  3. Giving feedback
  4. Continue from here

Structure that works

  1. 1

    Frame it

    The presenter states the problem, the constraints, what has already been tried, and the specific feedback they want.

  2. 2

    Silent review

    Give everyone two or three minutes to look before anyone speaks, so the first comment does not anchor the room.

  3. 3

    Clarifying questions only

    Understand before evaluating. This step removes most misdirected feedback.

  4. 4

    Feedback against objectives

    Each comment names which objective it relates to. Preferences that relate to no objective are noted separately.

  5. 5

    Presenter summarises

    They restate what they heard and what they intend to do. They are not required to agree.

Giving feedback

Do

  • Describe what you observe before interpreting it: 'my eye goes to the illustration first'.
  • Tie feedback to a stated objective or a principle.
  • Ask about the reasoning behind a decision before criticising it.
  • Separate 'this will not work' from 'I would have done it differently'.

Do not

  • Redesign in the room.
  • Give feedback on things the presenter said were fixed constraints.
  • Use 'I don't like' with no reasoning attached.
  • Let the most senior voice speak first.

Continue from here

Each link says what the connection is, so you can tell a principle from an alternative from a thing people mix this up with.

Principles behind this

The reasoning this solution is an application of.

Often used with

These usually appear in the same screen or the same decision.

Short definition

The one-paragraph version, for when that is all you need.

Related concept

Connected closely enough to change how you apply this.