How To Critique

The Importance of Critique in Graphic Design

Why Critique Matters

Improvement through feedback: Critique helps you see strengths and weaknesses in your work that you might miss on your own.
Industry standard: In professional design, feedback cycles are part of every project.
Perspective: Different people see your design in different ways — that variety of feedback helps you refine your ideas.

Giving a Good Critique

When critiquing a peer’s work, focus on being specific, helpful, and respectful. Use this framework:

Describe what you see → (“I notice you used complementary colours and bold typography.”)
Interpret what you think it communicates → (“It feels energetic and modern.”)
Evaluate how effective it is → (“The layout is strong, but the text is hard to read against the background.”)
Suggest concrete improvements → (“Maybe lighten the background or add a stroke to the text for clarity.”)

Avoid vague comments like “It looks good” or “I don’t like it.” Be clear and constructive.

Receiving Critique

Listen fully before responding — don’t defend your work right away.
Take notes — even if you disagree, feedback gives you insight into how your design is being received.
Ask clarifying questions → (“Which part of the layout feels too crowded?”)
Decide what to use — not all feedback needs to be applied, but consider it carefully.

Critique Etiquette

Always respect your peers. Critique the work, not the person.
Balance positives with suggestions: mention what’s working well before pointing out what needs improvement.
Keep it professional — imagine this is a real client meeting.

TASK:
For each of the following, provide 2 good comments, and 2 things that could have been done differently.

Critique Prompt List

Use these prompts when reviewing a peer’s work. Choose at least one from each section:

Observations (What you see)

“I notice you used ______ in your design.”
“The colour scheme feels ______.”
“The typography style gives the impression of ______.”
“The layout draws my eye to ______ first.”
“The strongest element in this design is ______.”

Interpretation (What it communicates)

“This design gives me the feeling of ______.”
“It communicates ______ really well.”
“It seems like the intended audience is ______.”
“The mood/style feels ______ (modern, playful, serious, etc.).”

Strengths (What’s working)

“I think the best part of this design is ______.”
“The use of space/colour/type really helps to ______.”
“I like how you emphasized ______.”
“The balance of elements makes the design feel ______.”

Suggestions (Areas to improve)

“One part that feels unclear/distracting is ______.”
“The text could be easier to read if ______.”
“You might improve the balance by ______.”
“I wonder if you tried changing the colour/size/position of ______.”
“It may be stronger if you simplified ______.”

Questions (To clarify or expand)

“What message are you trying to highlight most?”
“Who do you see as the main audience for this?”
“What made you choose this colour/type/imagery?”
“Did you consider adding/removing ______ to strengthen it?”

Tip: Always give at least:

1 strength (what’s working well)
1 suggestion (what could improve)
1 question (to prompt the designer’s reflection)

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