Want a productive design critique workshop that everyone will enjoy? Try this approach
A design critique refers to analyzing a design, and giving feedback on whether it meets its objectives. A design critique usually manifests as a group conversation with the ultimate goal of improving a design. It does not mean simply judging a design.
Design critiques should be a key part of any company process, and incorporating feedback into the design team’s existing process, shouldn’t be an epic task. Just follow these easy steps.
Set Goals
First, consider what you want to achieve with the workshop, and then commit to it. Get some stickers, and before every workshop, write new goals and/or add to the existing goals. Don’t lose too much time on this, max 5 mins. Example:
- Personal growth.
- Sharing feedback or reviewing work.
- Retrospection and adjustments.
- Etc…
Set Some Rules
In addition to having a workshop agenda that guides meeting participants towards accomplishing the goals, designers should have a clear understanding of what is expected of them to best support the design process. This is where workshop rules should come into play. Example:
- Give elevated feedback that will move the project forward.
- Be aware of what you are saying.
- Personal attacks are unacceptable.
- Don’t assume.
- Etc…
Give design critique
In order for the design feedback not to get awkward for the whole design team, add some structure to the design critique rounds. Each participant should be given more or less 15 minutes (moderator should watch for the time), and each participant should start with 2 minutes explaining the topic of the design, and what kind of critique they are expected to receive. Example:
- The designer wants to discuss the topic white space, and their question is how they can improve it in some high-fidelity mockup.
- The designer might want to discuss visual design, and its question will be about the color of the checkout button.
- Etc…
Cool-off time
Have 15 mins unstructured discussion about anything, except design (or anything related to work). Allow passions to cool, and use this time to build even stronger relationships. Be informal as much as possible. Find some icebreakers-question and have fun. Example:
- What is one article of clothing that someone could wear that would make you walk out on a date with them?
- The zombie apocalypse is coming, who are the 3 people you want on your team?
- What is your most-used emoji?
- What was the worst style choice you ever made?
- What was the worst haircut you ever had?
- Who was your childhood actor/actress crush?
- If you were a wrestler what would be your entrance theme song?
- Have you ever been told you look like someone famous, who was it?
- If you could bring back any fashion trend what would it be?
- What’s the most embarrassing fashion trend you used to rock?
Documentation
Find someplace to collaborate in one shared document after the workshop is done. Each participant of the workshop should fill out their part. A simple table is more than enough.
Continuing the discussion on some other channel
Sometimes time flies and you just have more to say. With your team, find a place where you can continue the discussion. Slack channels are a great place to do it. And with the right people and information in one place, teams can share ideas, make decisions, and move design work forward.
