Using Evidence to Survive a Design Critique

In both undergrad (Architecture school) and my current graduate program (UX), critiques are one of the primary tools for receiving feedback on your work. Rather than a final exam, a final project review often serves as the culmination all the work in a class. Students get feedback from the professor as well as (in most cases) outside critics, including other professors or outside professionals.

To “survive” a critique, you must be well prepared with good visuals that highlight your most impactful deliverables. But beyond that, you need to format your presentation in a way that tells a story rooted in research.

Use Evidence to Tell a Story

In UX school, the most compelling presentations are built around the user research that led to the final design. These presentations are focused on the experience of the product’s end user, and explain how the understanding of that target user led to each design decision.

Tying everything back to the research is critical. This is the evidence that a design actually “makes sense.” It proves that there was actual design thinking involved in the process.

This is a simple thought, but it can do a lot to help frame your approach as you prepare for a design critique. It can help you convince a jury of your design’s worth—and make sure they each “get it” enough that they don’t need to ask too many clarifying questions and can focus on giving you helpful feedback on your work.