Just like giving critique, receiving it in a way that is useful and productive
requires the recipient(s) to have the right intentions. Recipients of critique
should be in a mindset of stepping back from their creative thinking to
examine the choices they’ve made so far in order to better understand how to
proceed and take their creation further. And they should value the expertise
and perspectives of their teammates in doing so.
Often though, we see individuals and teams go through the process for the
wrong reasons. And whether it’s done consciously or not, it leads to issues
down the road as the project progresses, both for the product and the team’s
relationships.
Critique Anti-patterns
Asking For Feedback Without Listening
Sometimes we ask for feedback because we feel like it’s the right thing to do,
or because we feel like we have to. While Aaron and I believe that stepping
back and forth between creative thinking and analytical thinking is a key
component of a successful design process, it isn’t the case that you are always
in a position mentally or tactically, to listen, consider and utilize feedback to
improve your designs.
Asking for critique at these times leads to unproductive discussions. By not
listening to our teammates we miss valuable insights that can help us improve
our designs. The people critiquing our work are likely to pick up on our
disinterest and as a result will feel uninterested in sharing their thoughts. And
over time they’ll be less likely to participate in these kinds of conversations at
all.
Depending on the process your organization follows, you may have specific
times when you’re required to present your work and collect feedback.
Sometimes, these sessions might be useful to the design, but you’re brain just
isn’t ready to make the switch to analysis, and so you aren’t ready to listen to
critique.
In these situations, it’s important to recognize where your own thoughts are at
and understand why the meeting is being held. Make the most of it by focusing
your presentation and the discussion on aspects of your design that are more
fleshed-out. If conversation turns toward things you haven’t had the chance to
explore yet, make note of people’s questions or comments and either facilitate
the discussion back toward aspects that can be analyzed.
Remember the importance of being able to switch between creative and
analytical thought. While it might not always feel comfortable, getting
yourself used to making this switch and how to use it effectively, by making
critiques a scheduled part of your process, can go a long way to strengthening
you and your team’s skills as designers.