Design studies extends their horizon beyond usual metrics. It’s based on one’s perspective and thus highly subjective. In order to review designs, especially in the field of education peers and instructors use the subjective method called “critique”. Following article list ways and dos and don’ts of critiquing.
Surviving Critique: For Critics
Keep it cool
Who doesn’t like polite and supportive environment same goes with critiquing as well. Being supportive, self-disclosing and having lighter conversation have proved to be fruitful in this process. Avoid creating chaotic or suppressive situation.
Hamburger sounds yummy!
Name speaks for itself. It’s a way from critiquing where in you start with praising, then point out the flaw in the design and again end with a good note. Sandwich the tough part between sweet breads sort of idea, isn’t it yummy?
Being Reasonable
To be productive at critics who should be address answers to the question ‘why?’. ‘How’ it could have been better. ‘What’ combination would have led to better design? So that person or design being critiqued get a straight point to where to improvements are required!
Surviving Critique: For Critics
Briefing
Observe the audience and brief them about your work and idea you had in your mind while you were designing the concept. Blabbering too much won’t let critics to provide feed back
Listener learns more than Speaker does
Be open-minded, listen to suggestion and feedbacks, try not be too defensive. See if the feedback are practical and worth implementing. That could actually improve your design.
Keep up the spirit
Sometimes we get overwhelmingly bad feeds from peers and instructors, but learn from it and take it light. Nothing’s perfect around and there’s always scope for improvements.
Summarize & Analyse
Once critiquing session is done, summarize keep feeds. Have a look at the feasible and imp feeds to be implemented in next version or to see what could have made your design/design process a better one.
Reference :
by Karen Cheng under the blog ‘How to Survive Critique: A Guide to Giving and Receiving Feedback‘ @ http://arcadenw.org/article/how-to-survive-critique