Discussing Design: Improving Communication and Collaboration through Critique

by Adam Connor

critique is not the place for exploring new ideas.

Good critique is actionable.

In an incremental process, how closely our final creation matches what we had originally intended depends heavily on our ability to think ahead as we build each piece.

Divide your time into two main phases. In the first phase, utilize divergent thinking activities with which you can generate a large number of possible solutions without concern about their validity or quality. In the second phase, plan for convergent activities that push participants to examine the proposed ideas, looking for ways to categorize, consolidate, and eliminate ideas. Incorporate critique as part of the second phase to ensure that ideas are being kept or eliminated based on their strengths with respect to the product’s objectives.