2
What Critique Looks Like
The Two Sides Of Critique And The
Importance Of Intent
There are two sides, or roles, in any critique:
Recipient: The individual(s) receiving the critique (i.e. the creator or
presenter of whatever is being analyzed) who will take the perspectives
and information raised during the critique, process it and act upon it in
some way.
Giver: The individual(s) giving the critique, who are being asked to think
critically about the creation and provide their thoughts and perspectives.Within both of these roles there is the discrete aspect of intention: why are we
asking for/receiving/giving feedback. Intent is the initiator of the conversation
and is often what separates successful critiques and feedback discussions from
problematic ones.
For the best discussions, the intent of each participant, regardless of whether
they are receiving or giving critique needs to be appropriate. If we aren’t
careful, critique with the wrong, or inappropriate, intent on either side can lead
to problems not only in our designs, but also in our ability to work with our
teammates.