Discussing Design: The Art of Critique

What is critique?

Critique is about critical thinking.

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

Giving critique with thewrong intent is selﬁsh.

Giving critique with theright intent is selﬂess.

Tips for giving critique...

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

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

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

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

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

Receiving critique with the right intenttakes humility and meekness.

Tips for receiving critique...

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

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?

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?

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

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

Making critique part of your process...

A few things to keep in mind...

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

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

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

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

The Rules of Critique

The Rules of Critique• Avoidproblem solving and design decisions

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

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

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

Goals are critical for successful critique.

Who shouldyou invite?

When should you have critiques?

All the f***ing time!

What should you critique?

Every f***ing thing!

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

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

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 & visionExample Goals•Feedback on different concepts / approaches•Explore the design of competing products

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 & visionExample Goals•Feedback on different concepts / approaches•Explore the design of competing productsWhat You Might Look At•Competitors products•Conceptual models/sketches/ﬂows

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

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

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 constraintsExample Goals•Compare the design of system components•Identify usability issues•Get cross-functional team feedback

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 constraintsExample Goals•Compare the design of system components•Identify usability issues•Get cross-functional team feedbackWhat You Might Look At•Screen-ﬂow diagrams•Wireframes / Prototypes

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

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

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 issuesExample Goals•Analyze design details and the product’s full impact•Identify usability issues•Get cross-functional team feedback

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 issuesExample Goals•Analyze design details and the product’s full impact•Identify usability issues•Get cross-functional team feedbackWhat You Might Look At•High Fidelity Prototypes•Beta/Pilot Systems

Preparation and Kickoff

Tools & Techniques

Tools & Techniques• Activelistening, question for clarity

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

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

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

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

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

Dealing with difﬁcult people...

Help with handling difﬁcult people...

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

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

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

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

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)

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

Following Up

In Summary

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

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

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

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

In Summary

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

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

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

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

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/

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Discussing Design: The Art of Critique

by Adam Connor on Apr 02, 2011

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