ZEIT2301- Design Studios and Design Critiques

School of Engineering and Information Technology

UNSW@ADFA

Dr Kathryn Merrick

Bldg 16, Rm 212 (Thursdays and Fridays only)

k.merrick@adfa.edu.au

Overview

Introduction to design studios Format Role in Assignment 1

Introduction to design critiques What is a critique? How to give a constructive critique

References:

http://www.scottberkun.com/essays/23-how-to-run-a-design-critique/http://www.uie.com/articles/critique/

Design Studios

Aim to help you develop your collaborative design skills, including how to critique a design

Format: See

http://seit.unsw.adfa.edu.au/coursework/ZEIT2301/Lectures/03_DesignStudio.pdf

What is a Critique?

In the early and middle phases of a project, teams need a way to understand and explore the current direction of the design.

The challenge is to create the openness needed for good ideas to surface, while simultaneously cultivating the feedback and criticism necessary to resolve open issues.

What is a Critique not?

Not brainstorming In brainstorming the goal is to come up with new ideas A critique is focused on evaluating a set of existing

ideas, and possibly identify future directions or changes.

Not heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthrough, inspection, usability test etc

These tools look at design from the perspective of the user

A critique looks at a design from the perspective and experience of another designer

Different Types of Critiques

Early in the project Emphasise high level user, customer and business goals Minimise focus on specific engineering constraints

Later in the project Increasing pressure to have definite answers to criticisms Scope should decrease (don’t want new ideas now)

Typical Goals of a Critique

Obtain specific feedback on different approaches to one area or feature of a design

Compare how different components of a system are designed (are they consistent)

Explore competing products

Allow team members with different roles to give feedback from their perspective and expertise

Secondary Goals

Provide structure to the creative process

Improve team’s ability to think about and discuss design ideas

Improve team’s problem solving ability

Who Should Attend?

A critique should allow a small number of people to review and discuss ideas quickly and informally

Focus on people who are most likely to Understand the creative process Give useful and meaningful feedback, both positive and

negative

The Venue and Materials

Use a small conference room with lots of whiteboard space

A projector may be useful for presentations or prototype demonstrations

Handouts and sketches may be useful, depending on audience

Hold critiques regularly in the same venue

Elements of an Effective Critique

1. Respectful

2. Dispassionate

3. Lacking authority

4. Justified impressions and concerns

1. Respect

Acknowledge that hard work has been done

Be aware that receiving a critique can be difficult

Be polite and sensitive

Don’t ambush, Give critique when the

designer is ready to receive it

2. Be Dispassionate

A critique should be a learning opportunity to spread expertise, vision and skills

The designer isn’t being judged Their designs are being explored

3. Lacking Authority

A good critique knows that they themselves can’t change the design

They need to inspire the designer to change the design

Comments and questions that trigger the designer to explore their own design will be more effective than orders to change the design in some way

4. Justified Impressions and Concerns

Go beyond a statement of concern Give reasons for concerns Give alternative solutions

Team can then discuss merits of justifications rather than having critique degenerate into a battle of opinions

Giving Effective Criticism

Positive impressions and concerns need to be balanced

Can help to give them in parallel

Avoid hollow statements “I’m loving your work”

Avoid half-compliments “I like this, but…”

Give the designer a chance to explain “Have you considered X?”

Preparing a Critique

What did you enjoy about the design and why?

What concerns me about the design and why?

What does this design remind me of and why?

Deliver at least a positive for every negative Sandwich approach positive-negative-positive

Rank criticisms and bring up the most important points first

Receiving Criticism The designer should

step away from the design (this can be hard!)

The designer isn’t being judged, rather their design is being explored

View a critique as a chance to learn and improve your design skills

Responding to Criticism

Pause

Turn of emotion and turn on brain

Listen carefully

Ask questions

Acknowledge errors (if they exist)

Take corrective action (if necessary)

Acknowledge the other person’s motive in giving criticism Say thank you

Summary

After today’s lecture you should:

Understand the design studio component of this course and its role in Assignment 1

Be able to give an effective criticism of a design

Be able to receive criticism