Handle design critique like a Pro: Emotional and communication tips

Published in

Bootcamp

5 min readDec 9, 2024

Let’s talk about something every designer faces — how to handle design critique.

And not just at the technical level — this is about how to handle critique on both an emotional and communicational level. Because let’s be real: no matter how experienced you are, getting feedback on your work can be tough.

But here’s the thing — learning to handle critique well can elevate your skills, your design process, and even your relationships with your team. So, let’s dive in.

P.S.: If you want to watch this as a video instead, you can click here:
https://youtu.be/ByA-mXnzyCA?si=CDKSAkyRd3fHb743

“Great design is a multi-layered relationship between human life and its environment.” —Naoto Fukasawa — “Great design is a multi-layered relationship between human life and its environment.” — Naoto Fukasawa

The first step to mastering critique starts within yourself. Here are two important mindset shifts:

1️⃣ Detach yourself from your work.
Your design is not you. Feedback on your design isn’t a critique of your worth as a person. I know it can feel personal — especially when you’ve poured so much into your work — but learning to separate yourself from your design will help you stay open to feedback.

2️⃣ Embrace imperfection.
Here’s a reality check: no one is perfect — and that’s okay. Sometimes you’ll miss things, or your solution won’t hit the mark. Instead of getting defensive, say:

“You’re right; I hadn’t thought of that.”
Or: “I didn’t have the time to explore that, but let me revisit it.”
Admitting you’re human shows confidence and humility — it’s always better than stubbornly defending something that isn’t working.

Let’s paint a picture:

You’ve just delivered a design you’re really proud of. But then, your Design Manager or Product Manager gives you some feedback — maybe they’re skeptical about your solution, or worse, they outright reject it.

Your first instinct? Probably to defend it, right?

“But it works because of XYZ!”
Or maybe you’re thinking: “Why don’t they get it?!”

Trust me, I’ve been there. But here’s the thing: defensive reactions can make you look closed off and unwilling to collaborate. What if, instead, you handled critique with calm confidence?

Let’s explore how.

“Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It will take you places.” —Peter McIndoe — “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It will take you places.” — Peter McIndoe

Here’s a step-by-step approach you can use in any critique situation:

1️⃣ Pause, breathe, and listen.

Before reacting, take a deep breath. Listen carefully to what’s being said, and focus on understanding why they’re giving you this feedback.

2️⃣ Stay calm and composed.

It’s easy to feel frustrated or disappointed, but keep your tone neutral and professional. Raising your voice or getting too emotional makes you seem defensive instead of collaborative.

3️⃣ Ask clarifying questions.

If the feedback isn’t clear, dive deeper:

“Can you elaborate on what’s not working?”
Or: “What specific concerns do you have?”

This shifts the conversation into problem-solving mode.

4️⃣ Brainstorm alternatives.

While they’re talking, start thinking of 2–3 alternative solutions. If you can’t come up with them on the spot, that’s okay — just say:

“Thanks for the feedback. Let me think this over and come back with some options.”

This shows you’re open to collaboration and willing to revisit your ideas.

5️⃣ Acknowledge good feedback.

If the critique raises a valid point, say so! For example:

“You’re right — I didn’t catch that.”
Or: “That’s a great callout. Let me work on it.”

If you’d already considered the issue, explain your thought process:

“I see where you’re coming from. I actually thought about that too, and here’s how I approached it…”

6️⃣ Ask for their input.

Finally, ask:

“Do you have any ideas or suggestions to address this?”
You don’t have to promise to follow their exact suggestion, but it shows you value their perspective.

“Design is an iterative process. One idea is never perfect; it’s just the starting point for something better.” — Mike Davidson

Now, let’s talk about why this matters.

When you handle critique well, two amazing things happen:

1️⃣ You grow as a designer.
Feedback helps you see blind spots, refine your work, and become more adaptable — skills every great designer needs.

2️⃣ You build trust and credibility.
People will see you as someone who’s collaborative, professional, and open to ideas. And honestly? That makes you a joy to work with.

But, what about unhelpful or vague feedback?

Not all feedback will be actionable, and that’s okay. If you’re struggling to understand someone’s critique, try asking:

“Could you clarify what you mean by that?”
Or: “Is there a specific issue I should focus on improving?”

If the feedback feels subjective or out of scope, consider whether it aligns with the project’s goals. It’s okay to prioritize feedback that’s constructive and ignore what isn’t relevant.

Let’s recap the key steps to handling critique:

Quick recap: Handling Feedback like a Pro

1️⃣ Breathe, listen, and don’t take it personally.
2️⃣ Stay calm and professional in your tone.
3️⃣ Ask clarifying questions to understand the feedback and dig deeper.
4️⃣ Brainstorm alternatives — on the spot or later.
5️⃣ Acknowledge good feedback and share your thought process.
6️⃣ Collaborate by asking for input or suggestions.

Remember: critique is not rejection. It’s an opportunity to collaborate, refine, and grow.

Before we wrap up, I want to leave you with one final thought: handling critique is a skill — and like any skill, it gets easier with practice.

The more you embrace feedback as part of your process, the more confident and adaptable you’ll become. And that’s what makes great designers truly stand out.

I hope this article helped and if you are interested in another topic, I would love to hear your suggestions. Also, let me know in the comments: