How to Receive a Critique

Yes, this means at full size but it also includes showing your work as close to finished as possible to allow the person giving the critique to provide you with the best feedback. Show your work at full size, in color, in the correct format, and on whatever substance you plan on delivering in your final work.

You want others to take your work seriously - show that you do the same. Print on nice paper, use the best printer possible, trim with clean lines, and don't show bent or wrinkled work. Remember that the presentation can be as important as the work itself. A good critique will often include feedback on your work as well as how you show that work.

If you feel the need to start a critique by apologizing for your work it probably shouldn't be in a critique at all. Many people default to apologizing when presenting their work - not only does that not make people excited to look at your work but it also makes it more difficult for a person giving a critique to be honest and open with their feedback. Confidently presenting your work is not boasting - it shows that you take your work seriously and that it's worth critiquing.

It's a horrible experience to give a critique to someone who is communicating to you that they don't want to be there. You want to make it as easy as possible for your reviewer to help you refine your work. Showing your interest in their opinion will make the critique a more positive experience for everyone involved and will bring you more feedback.

You're about to get focused feedback from someone who's goal in critiquing your work is to make it better. What an amazing privilege it is to have so much attention dedicated just to you and your work. Soak up everything you can and enjoy it. Your excitement will show and bring out more from your reviewer than you would have received otherwise.

All critiques are different - some include a lot of back and forth - some are just a one-way flow of feedback. Don't count on asking specific questions or directing the critique towards certain areas of your work. Even if you don't get the chance to vocalize your thoughts the practice of thinking through your work will inform better future iterations.

Be sure to check and double check what reviewer's expectations are about what you will be showing in the critique and do your best to align with those expectations. It sounds simple, but showing up to a critique with the wrong work is a wasted opportunity for feedback and reflects very poorly on you as a designer.

Critiques can feel like drinking out of a fire hose - there's a lot of information coming at you and chances are you won't remember all of it once the critique is finished. Take notes on what's being said or ask someone to take them for you. You'll appreciate them later and it communicates to the person giving the critique that you're taking them and their feedback seriously.

Knowing what you need to get out of a critique can be really helpful in setting you up for good feedback from a reviewer. While some critiques are established in their goals many allow for some direction from the person whose work is being reviewed. If there are certain things you'd like to discuss in your critique be vocal about them rather than sitting back and hoping that the reviewer will comment on those areas.