Enemies to Lovers: Design Critiques
There was nothing I wanted to hear less than “Be ready to present your work for critique next class.”
In my high school AP art class, and my first year of university, I dreaded critiques. The thought of showing my work to a class full of other design or art students felt overwhelming.
I used to feel:
Imposter syndrome: I wasn’t good enough to show my work to the class.
Judgement: My peers would question my ability to design.
Insecurity: I did not belong in the class since everyone is better than me.
Now, as a young professional, I look forward to critiques. While they can still be intimidating, I’ve come to appreciate their value. Even if the feedback is harsh, I strive for new opinions from my peers. Critiques have taught me how to grow as a designer, push my work further, and develop a thicker skin.
Significance of Feedback in Design
In any creative industry, including design, your work is a process that grows over time. To improve your work and overall ideas, feedback plays an essential role.. Outside perspectives in a critique help you think in different ways and identify strengths and weaknesses you may not have noticed. Designers spend hours looking at their work, which makes it easy to overlook mistakes. A fresh set of eyes can reveal inconsistencies before a project reaches the client or goes to print.
Designer and professor, Boris Müller explains:
“[Critiques] form the backbone of creative education… fundamental to the development of a creative professional. They provide an opportunity to present skills, ideas, and ambitions”.
Furthermore, in his article “Design Critic Culture” , Müller emphasizes that giving and receiving feedback are equally valuable. Both sides of critiquing help you grow as a designer. You can gain feedback for your own work, but also be inspired by others. By critiquing the work of others, you sharpen your ability to analyze design and become more aware of potential errors in your own work. Learning from your peer’s mistakes can be just as insightful as receiving direct feedback. Critiques can also spark new ideas, inspiring you to pivot in new directions.
Shifting your Mindset
Even though critiques can feel harsh sometimes, they focus on your work, not on you as a designer. It’s important for peers to be honest, but critiques should always be delivered respectfully. In professional environments, designers of all levels rely on critiques for their peer’s analysis and feedback. This approach of collaborative problem solving makes the final product more successful, for the entire team.
Embracing constructive criticism takes practice. You have to create a shift from insecurity of judgement to an opportunity for growth. Instead of feeling defensive or upset, approach feedback with an open mind. Even if you don’t agree with a critique, listening to a different perspective can help you see your work in a new way.
While some feedback will point out technical mistakes, other critiques will be subjective. It’s okay to stand by your creative decisions while still considering the idea. Learning how you can improve your work and overall design skills should be your focus in a critique even if you feel vulnerable. Having a growth mindset is a necessary skill as a designer and creative.
Growing as a designer means becoming more confident and open-minded when receiving feedback. Although critiques can still feel intimidating, I now see them as an opportunity to improve, learn, and push my work to better results. Once I stopped fearing critiques and started embracing them, I became a better designer.
Hey, I’m Ashley!
I am a graphic & interactive designer passionate about creating purposeful, fun, and engaging design. Whether it’s a brand identity, a responsive website, or a social media campaign, I love connecting ideas with strategy to make work that’s not only beautiful, but effective.
