Design Crit

In this class, we will regularly have formal design critique (“crit”), where students will show their current work to the class for group discussion. The goals of crit are for students to:

1. Learn what other groups are working on
2. Practice giving constructive design feedback
3. Receive feedback from both the instructor and their peers
4. Improve their designs!

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Crit Agenda

1. Each group:
   1. Chooses a notetaker for the week
   2. Shares 1-2 design objectives with the class
   3. Presents their current design work
2. The class takes turns sharing their feedback using the Crit Framework below
3. The notetaker records feedback, which they can consider to improve their designs

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Crit Rules

Laptop Lids Down

So we can give presenters our full attention!

Design Objective > Personal Opinion

Ask yourself: are you critiquing from personal preference or about the design objectives?

Crit Framework

1. What is the objective of the design?
2. What elements of the design are related to the objective?
3. Are those elements effective in achieving the objective?
4. Why or why not?

Start with questions

• • What aspects of your design are you seeking feedback on?
  • Who are you designing for?
  • What considerations for accessibility should be made?
  • What problem are you trying to solve?
  • What other options did you consider for [aspect/element]?
  • What was the motivation for choosing this approach for [aspect/element]?
  • (Don’t use “why”, it can feel like an attack)

Lead with Strengths

• Share two things that are working and why
• Then share two things needing improvement