In this presentation we’ll discuss the importance of critique and a language for discussing design. It’s easy to complain about the way things are and theorize on the way things should be. Progress comes from understanding why something is the way it is and then examining how it meets or does not meet the desired goals. This is critique. Critique is not about describing how bad something is, or proposing the ultimate solution. Critique is a dialogue, a conversation that takes place to better understand how we got to where we are, how close we are to getting where we want to go and what we have left to do to get there. The contents of this presentation will focus on: understanding critique best practices for incorporating critiques into a design practice identifying common challenges to critique and ways to improve our ability to deliver, collect and receive critique

2. What is critique?

3. Critique is about critical thinking.

4. There are two facets to critique:
giving and receiving.
At their foundation is intent.

5. Giving critique with the
wrong intent is selfish.

6. Giving critique with the
right intent is selfless.

7. Tips for giving critique...

8. Tips for giving critique...
• Use a filter
Gather initial thoughts and reactions. Revisit them in the right context

9. Tips for giving critique...
• Use a filter
Gather initial thoughts and reactions. Revisit them in the right context
• Don’t assume
Find out the reason behind thinking, constraints or other variables

10. Tips for giving critique...
• Use a filter
Gather initial thoughts and reactions. Revisit them in the right context
• Don’t assume
Find out the reason behind thinking, constraints or other variables
• Don’t invite yourself
Get in touch and ask to chat about the design

11. Tips for giving critique...
• Use a filter
Gather initial thoughts and reactions. Revisit them in the right context
• Don’t assume
Find out the reason behind thinking, constraints or other variables
• Don’t invite yourself
Get in touch and ask to chat about the design
• Lead with questions
Show an interest in their process

12. Tips for giving critique...
• Use a filter
Gather initial thoughts and reactions. Revisit them in the right context
• Don’t assume
Find out the reason behind thinking, constraints or other variables
• Don’t invite yourself
Get in touch and ask to chat about the design
• Lead with questions
Show an interest in their process
• Talk about strengths
Critique isn’t just about the things that aren’t working

13. Receiving critique with the right intent
takes humility and meekness.

14. Tips for receiving critique...

15. Tips for receiving critique...
• Remember the purpose
Critique is about understanding and improvement, not judgement

16. Tips for receiving critique...
• Remember the purpose
Critique is about understanding and improvement, not judgement
• Listen and think before you talk back
Do you understand what the critics are saying?

17. Tips for receiving critique...
• Remember the purpose
Critique is about understanding and improvement, not judgement
• Listen and think before you talk back
Do you understand what the critics are saying?
• Refer to the goals
Is what you’re hearing pertinent to the goals you’re trying to achieve?

18. Tips for receiving critique...
• Remember the purpose
Critique is about understanding and improvement, not judgement
• Listen and think before you talk back
Do you understand what the critics are saying?
• Refer to the goals
Is what you’re hearing pertinent to the goals you’re trying to achieve?
• Participate
Analyze your proposed solution with everyone else

19. Critique is a life skill...
...not a design skill.

20. Making critique part of your process...

21. A few things to keep in mind...

22. A few things to keep in mind...
• Critique
is a skill. You only get better
with practice

23. A few things to keep in mind...
• Critique
is a skill. You only get better
with practice
• Start small

24. A few things to keep in mind...
• Critique
is a skill. You only get better
with practice
• Start small
• Think before you speak

25. A few things to keep in mind...
• Critique
is a skill. You only get better
with practice
• Start small
• Think before you speak
• Choose who you critique with
carefully

26. The Rules of Critique

27. The Rules of Critique
• Avoidproblem solving
and design decisions

28. The Rules of Critique
• Avoidproblem solving
and design decisions
• Thedesigner is
responsible for follow
up and decisions

29. The Rules of Critique
• Avoidproblem solving
and design decisions
• Thedesigner is
responsible for follow
up and decisions
• Everyone is equal

30. The Rules of Critique
• Avoidproblem solving
and design decisions
• Thedesigner is
responsible for follow
up and decisions
• Everyone is equal
• Everyone is a critic

31. Goals are critical for successful critique.

32. Who should
you invite?

33. When should you have critiques?

34. All the f***ing time!

35. What should you critique?

36. Every f***ing thing!

37. When and what should you be critiquing?
In the beginning of a project...

38. When and what should you be critiquing?
In the beginning of a project...
What You’re Working On
•High level user & business goals
•User research, competitive analysis
•Initial concepts & vision

39. When and what should you be critiquing?
In the beginning of a project...
What You’re Working On
•High level user & business goals
•User research, competitive analysis
•Initial concepts & vision
Example Goals
•Feedback on different concepts / approaches
•Explore the design of competing products

40. When and what should you be critiquing?
In the beginning of a project...
What You’re Working On
•High level user & business goals
•User research, competitive analysis
•Initial concepts & vision
Example Goals
•Feedback on different concepts / approaches
•Explore the design of competing products
What You Might Look At
•Competitors products
•Conceptual models/sketches/flows

41. When and what should you be critiquing?
In the middle of a project...

42. When and what should you be critiquing?
In the middle of a project...
What You’re Working On
•Detailed interactions & product behaviors
•Identifying flow variations & solving for constraints

43. When and what should you be critiquing?
In the middle of a project...
What You’re Working On
•Detailed interactions & product behaviors
•Identifying flow variations & solving for constraints
Example Goals
•Compare the design of system components
•Identify usability issues
•Get cross-functional team feedback

44. When and what should you be critiquing?
In the middle of a project...
What You’re Working On
•Detailed interactions & product behaviors
•Identifying flow variations & solving for constraints
Example Goals
•Compare the design of system components
•Identify usability issues
•Get cross-functional team feedback
What You Might Look At
•Screen-flow diagrams
•Wireframes / Prototypes

45. When and what should you be critiquing?
At the end of a project...

46. When and what should you be critiquing?
At the end of a project...
What You’re Working On
•Finalizing detailed design
•Solidify answers or solutions to issues

47. When and what should you be critiquing?
At the end of a project...
What You’re Working On
•Finalizing detailed design
•Solidify answers or solutions to issues
Example Goals
•Analyze design details and the product’s full impact
•Identify usability issues
•Get cross-functional team feedback

48. When and what should you be critiquing?
At the end of a project...
What You’re Working On
•Finalizing detailed design
•Solidify answers or solutions to issues
Example Goals
•Analyze design details and the product’s full impact
•Identify usability issues
•Get cross-functional team feedback
What You Might Look At
•High Fidelity Prototypes
•Beta/Pilot Systems

49. Preparation and Kickoff

50. Tools & Techniques

51. Tools & Techniques
• Activelistening,
question for clarity

52. Tools & Techniques
• Activelistening,
question for clarity
• Round Robin

53. Tools & Techniques
• Activelistening,
question for clarity
• Round Robin
• Direct Inquiry

54. Tools & Techniques
• Activelistening,
question for clarity
• Round Robin
• Direct Inquiry
• Quotas

55. Tools & Techniques
• Activelistening,
question for clarity
• Round Robin
• Direct Inquiry
• Quotas
• Six Thinking Hats

56. Tools & Techniques
• Activelistening,
question for clarity
• Round Robin
• Direct Inquiry
• Quotas
• Six Thinking Hats
• Facilitators

57. Dealing with difficult people...

58. Help with handling difficult people...

59. Help with handling difficult people...
• Set expectations at the beginning

60. Help with handling difficult people...
• Set expectations at the beginning
• Make sure everyone understands critique

61. Help with handling difficult people...
• Set expectations at the beginning
• Make sure everyone understands critique
• Ask quiet people for feedback directly

62. Help with handling difficult people...
• Set expectations at the beginning
• Make sure everyone understands critique
• Ask quiet people for feedback directly
• Refer back to personas, goals and principles

63. Help with handling difficult people...
• Set expectations at the beginning
• Make sure everyone understands critique
• Ask quiet people for feedback directly
• Refer back to personas, goals and principles
• Use laddering (The 5 Whys)

64. Help with handling difficult people...
• Set expectations at the beginning
• Make sure everyone understands critique
• Ask quiet people for feedback directly
• Refer back to personas, goals and principles
• Use laddering (The 5 Whys)
• Critique with people individually ahead of time

65. Following Up

66. In Summary

67. In Summary
• Critique focuses on what works, what doesn’t and why.
It’s a form of analysis

68. In Summary
• Critique focuses on what works, what doesn’t and why.
It’s a form of analysis
• Critique
is a life skill. It makes us better communicators
and collaborators and only improves with practice

69. In Summary
• Critique focuses on what works, what doesn’t and why.
It’s a form of analysis
• Critique
is a life skill. It makes us better communicators
and collaborators and only improves with practice
• Intentis critical to the success of a critique on both
sides: giving and receiving

70. In Summary
• Critique focuses on what works, what doesn’t and why.
It’s a form of analysis
• Critique
is a life skill. It makes us better communicators
and collaborators and only improves with practice
• Intentis critical to the success of a critique on both
sides: giving and receiving
• Theright intent is to understand the design and provide
information to help the designer make better decisions

71. In Summary

72. In Summary
• Agreed upon and mutually understood goals are
critical both when asking for and giving critique

73. In Summary
• Agreed upon and mutually understood goals are
critical both when asking for and giving critique
• Thereare basic rules that should be followed to help
ensure good critique

74. In Summary
• Agreed upon and mutually understood goals are
critical both when asking for and giving critique
• Thereare basic rules that should be followed to help
ensure good critique
• Critique
can be done both internally and with clients.
Use 3-6 people for about 1 hour

75. In Summary
• Agreed upon and mutually understood goals are
critical both when asking for and giving critique
• Thereare basic rules that should be followed to help
ensure good critique
• Critique
can be done both internally and with clients.
Use 3-6 people for about 1 hour
• Be prepared to deal with difficult people

76. Additional Resources
• The Art of the Design Critique (Aarron Walter - Think Vitamin)
http://thinkvitamin.com/design/the-art-of-the-design-critique/
• It’s Not Working For Me: #crit (Mark Boulton - Mark Boulton Design)
http://www.markboulton.co.uk/journal/comments/its-not-working-for-me-crit
• Design Criticism and the Creative Process (Cassie McDaniel - A List Apart)
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/design-criticism-creative-process/
• Everything I’ve Ever Learned About Giving Design Critiques... (Dan Saffer - Kicker Studio)
http://www.kickerstudio.com/blog/2010/11/everything-ive-ever-learned-about-giving-
design-critiques-i-learned-from-tim-gunn/
• What Goes into a Well-Done Critique (Jared Spool - UIE)
http://www.uie.com/articles/critique/
• Do you want critique, or a hug? (Jon Kolko - AC4D)
http://www.ac4d.com/2012/04/30/do-you-want-critique-or-a-hug/