• What is critique?
• critique and feedback are not the same thing.
• feedback: gut response. instance reaction to something.
• critique is an ongoing process: built on refining to create a better product.
• it needs to be presented in such a way that it is actionable.
• critique is about critical thinking
• there are two facets to critique
• giving and receiving
• at their foundation is intent. the “why?”
• why am i asking for feedback? why am i giving feedback?
• giving critique with the wrong intent is selfish.
• “I’m smart, this is wrong, I want to be validated that I’m smart.”
• it’s about approach as well: “hey, congratulations on your launch. that’s awesome. i love the product. when you get a chance, i want to give you some feedback. can i buy you lunch or a beer or send you an email?”
• Tips for giving critique
• Use a filter: Gather initial thoughts and reactions. Revisit them in the right context.
• Don’t assume: Find out the reason behind thinking, constraints or other variables.
• Odds are, they had many constraints.
• Don’t invite yourself: Get in touch and ask to chat about the design.
• Lead with questions: Show an interest in their process?
• What were your goals?
• What were you trying to do with that?
• Talk about strengths. Critiques are not just about things that aren’t working. It’s also about understanding what is working well: to maintain or to build on.
• Receiving critique with the right intent takes humility and meekness
• Remove yourself from the setting. It’s about the product.
• Don’t ask for feedback if you aren’t ready to receive and act on and think about.
• Remember the purpose: critique is about understanding and improvement, not judgement.
• Listen and think before you talk back. Do you understand what the critics are saying?
• Don’t be thinking about your rebuttal while they are talking.
• Refer to the goals. Is what you’re hearing pertinent to the goals you’re trying to achieve?
• Participate. Analyze your proposed solution along with everyone else.
• Critique is a life skill, it is not a design skill.
• It applies to sports, cooking, anything that you can do.

• Making critique part of your process
• Design Reviews
• This is not part of design review. You can have 30 people in a design review. Half the people there don’t care.
• design review is not a critique
• critique is impromptu, or scheduled, but it comes before design review.
• Critique is a skill. You only get better with practice.
• Start small.
• Think before you speak.
• Choose who you critique with carefully.
• Rules of Critique
• Avoid problem solving and design decisions.
• The designer is responsible for follow up and decisions.
• Everyone is equal.
• Everyone is a critic.
• Don’t let people be silent…because they’ll come back two months later with feedback, and it’ll be too late to address it then.
• Goals are critical for successful critique
• Scope the critique session: “today i want to talk about flow”, “today i want to talk about this one UI component”.
• Who should you invite?
• 4-6 people.

• Tools and techniques
• Active Listening, question for clarity
• Round robin
• direct inquiry
• quotas
• six thinking hats: emotional perspective, behavioral perspective, etc. 
• Facilitators
• Helpful in the beginning, but as you get more experienced, you will want to take control of your conversation yourself.
• Handling difficult people
• Set expectations at the beginning. “We’re not here to talk about the color. We’re here to discuss this UI component.”
• Make sure everyone understand critique.
• Ask quiet people for feedback directly.
• Refer back to personas, goals and principles.
• Use laddering (the 5 whys).
• Critique with people individually ahead of time.
• Get them out of a group session. It’ll be more civil. They won’t flare their peacock feathers.