davemcnally.net

Critiques are an important part of a design process and can be invaluable, especially in those early stages. However, we shouldn’t forget the purpose of critiques. Asking for some opinions is one thing but asking for praise is quite different and I think some people have things confused…

It was the recent episode of Freelance Radio that caught my attention relating to this as they talked about creatives needing a kind of affirmation, like a child showing their first painting to their parents; they only want to hear the positives and want to praised for their achievements. This is most certainly not what critiquing is about.

This got me wondering about people asking for critiques for their designs and just how many of those people actually wanted some criticism, be it negative or positive. Nobody wants to hear their work isn’t up to scratch but critiques aren’t about that either. They are meant to provoke thought in the designer and suggest different directions in which they can take their designs. They may point out potential problems but they are not there to solve them, merely to help you come to your own solutions.

I have asked for critiques many a time, not because I lack any self belief or confidence but under the rule that there’s always room for improvement and fresh eyes are always going to view things differently than you do. Also, it can be quite difficult to critique things yourself and improve upon them as you are more involved in the design and more attached to it, others are unobjective and completely unbiased. Sadly, this isn’t always the case though and sometimes, designers receive nothing but praise simply because of who they are, regardless of how the design looks. Nobody is above critiquing and it always helps to get opinions of others.

I’ve also given critiques plenty of times too and it’s not as straight forward as you would believe if you looked as some critiques online. Giving your opinion alone isn’t helpful and it takes a more thought out approach to be of any value at all to the designer. I see a lot of comments saying they like or dislike the design but without any reasoning behind the statements. If you are going to bother answering in the first place, please make sure you have at least something to add that the designer can benefit from. There’s no point in boosting somebody’s ego as the majority of people asking for critiques aren’t looking for that sort of thing and those who are, don’t deserve it.

That just about wraps this one up, it wasn’t much article wise but something I feel need to be said and as this is somewhere to voice my opinions and thoughts, I decided it was worthy of a mention. So remember, if you are asking for a critique, be prepared to take some criticism and don’t expect unjustified praise either. If you are giving a critique, think about it first and be sure your response is going to at least provoke some thought in the designer.