Design critique

Design Critique

Giving Critique

The Framework

For every piece of feedback, hit three points:

1. Observation — What you see (factual, not opinion)
2. Impact — Why it matters (connects to goals, users, or principles)
3. Direction — What to explore (not prescriptive, but generative)

Example:

• Observation: "The CTA is the same visual weight as the navigation links."
• Impact: "Users scanning the page won't know where to click first."
• Direction: "Try increasing the size or contrast of the CTA, or reducing the visual weight of the nav."

What Good Critique Sounds Like

• "I notice [observation]. How does that serve [the user/the goal]?"
• "This works well because [specific reason]. What if we pushed it further by..."
• "The hierarchy here reads as [X] before [Y]. Is that the intended priority?"
• "I'm drawn to [element], but I think it might compete with [other element]."

What Bad Critique Sounds Like

• "I don't like it" (not actionable)
• "Make it pop" (meaningless)
• "Can we try it in blue?" (prescriptive without rationale)
• "This is wrong" (no direction, pure criticism)
• "What if we added..." (solution before understanding the problem)

Critique Priority Order

1. Strategy — Is this solving the right problem?
2. Structure — Is the information architecture correct?
3. Interaction — Does the flow make sense?
4. Visual — Does it look right?
5. Polish — Are the details refined?

Don't critique polish when the strategy is wrong.

Receiving Critique

How to Present Work for Critique

• State what you want feedback on (scope the conversation)
• Explain the constraints you're working within
• Share what you've already tried and why you moved past it
• Don't apologize for unfinished work (it's a critique, not a showcase)

How to Process Feedback

• Write it down before responding
• Ask clarifying questions ("Can you say more about what feels off?")
• Look for patterns (if 3 people mention hierarchy, it's a hierarchy problem)
• Separate "I don't prefer this" from "this doesn't work for users"
• You don't have to act on everything. But you should understand everything.

Running a Critique Session

Format (60 min max)

1. Context (5 min) — Designer presents the problem, constraints, current state
2. Silent review (5 min) — Everyone looks without speaking
3. Clarifying questions (5 min) — "What does this state do?" not "Why did you..."
4. Feedback (30 min) — One at a time, using the observation-impact-direction framework
5. Synthesis (10 min) — Designer summarizes what they heard and intended next steps
6. Written follow-up — Key feedback documented within 24 hours