Design critique — Design, 14–17 years
How to examine a design, explain its effects and give feedback that can lead to a better decision.
Explaining what a design does
A design critique is a careful conversation about how a design works, what it communicates and where it fails. It separates the object from the person who made it. Instead of saying “I like it” or “it is bad”, a useful critique links a visible choice to an effect: “The button is hard to find because its colour matches the background.”
The problem of vague feedback
Designers need other people to notice problems they have become too close to see. “Make it pop” or “I don’t like the layout” may express a real reaction, but they do not say what to change or why. Critique developed as a way to make judgement discussable: describe the evidence, explain the effect, then suggest a direction without pretending there is only one answer.
Turning a reaction into feedback
Suppose a poster’s event date is written in 12-point grey text below a large image. First, describe the choice: “The date is small, grey and placed under the image.” Next, describe the effect: “A reader scanning from a distance may miss when the event happens.” Finally, suggest a testable change: “Try 24-point dark text near the title, then check whether three people find the date quickly.”
Confusing preference with evidence
A common mistake is treating personal taste as proof: “I would never use orange, so orange is wrong.” This is reasonable because our own reaction is immediate and feels certain. But a critique asks whether the choice serves the brief and the people using the design. You can dislike orange and still recognise that it creates strong contrast or suits the intended mood.
Critique in creative work
Critique is used in design studios, architecture reviews, film editing, advertising meetings and photography groups. It helps a team decide which parts are working before time and money are spent finishing them. The same habit is useful for a portfolio or presentation: explain the problem, show the choice, and connect it to what happened rather than claiming that every decision was perfect.
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