Critique Notes: Learning Tool for Design Education
Industry
Education
Design Category
Learning Experience Design / UX Research
Timeline
Nov 2024 - Ongoing
Team
4 Designers
Impact
120 Students Reached
2× More Actionable
Background
Problem
How can the format of final critiques in design education be improved to foster more genuine and constructive feedback for students?
We need to design a system that priotizes balancing structured reflection with open dialogue, supporting both student critics and student presenters.
Solution
A 3-step pedagogical system that guides students through productive and articulated exchanges in final critique, aimed at fostering collaborative learning and growth.
Jump to Process
01\
Card prompt exercise for optimized brainstorming
Before the presentation, each student critic receives two card prompts--one card from the "Big Picture" deck, and another from the"Deep Dive" deck. This exercise encourages critics to focus and gather productive thoughts prior to diving into the presentation. The "Big Picture" deck asks critics to consider conceptual aspects of the project, while the "Deep Dive" deck focuses on technical considerations.
General / Warm-up Prompts
Specific / Technical Prompts
02\
Guided note-taking for thoughtful articulation
The pamphlet helps critics provide structured feedback by guiding them to note initial thoughts during the presentation, complete a radar chart evaluating key design concepts, and offer written feedback on areas of success, questions, and constructive criticism. This approach promotes a democratic feedback process, ensuring all voices are heard, preventing dominant opinions from overshadowing others, and encouraging clear, actionable insights that support the presenter’s growth.
03\
Self reflection and synthesized learning
After presenting their project, the presenter collects all critique notes from the class. Once they've reviewed the feedback, they reflect on their project, identifying areas for improvement and considering how they can apply the feedback to future projects. This process encourages self-awareness and growth, helping the presenter to refine their approach and develop stronger design practices moving forward.
Research
We conducted interviews and gathered polling data from 60+ students majoring in design in the following institutions and ended up with some key findings.
We conducted interviews and gathered polling data from 60+ students majoring in design in the following institutions and ended up with some key findings.
User Journey Mapping
We analyzed and synthesized the quantitative and qualitative data from the surveys and interviews conducted during each phase of the final critique on a journey map and discovered that the pain points of presenters and critics actually mirrored each other: while critics struggled to articulate their points clearly, presenters found it difficult to gather actionable feedback.
Key Insights
Competitive Tools
Hence, we began with a competitive analysis to not only gather inspiration but also identify common strategies that enhance the critique process, such as structured prompts to guide feedback, visual frameworks for clarity, and integrated reflection tools to help users synthesize insights effectively.
Design
Core Design Tenants
From our extensive secondary and primary research, we have identified common themes and pinpointed the following design tenants that will guide our processes.
Sketches and Idea Development
Phase I Development
Initially, we envisioned gamifying critique with a deck of cards featuring thought-provoking questions, aiming to foster genuine feedback by reimagining the critique process as a "discussion-first, sharing-second" structure. However, we soon discovered that this approach was too intrusive and attempted to alter the traditional critique process too drastically, leading to confusion among students and professors. It simply did not feel natural.
Pivot
Phase II Development
Phase 2 focused on consolidating a feedback system that addresses the pain points of both critics and presenters during each phase of the final critique. The system includes a brainstorm aid, guided note-taking, and self-reflection components, ensuring critics provide productive feedback while giving presenters clear insights from diverse perspectives. This approach maximizes the value of feedback within the same timeframe, improving the efficiency of the critique process compared to traditional verbal methods.
User Testing
Stickynotes vs Critique Notes
A/B Testing
We conducted A/B testing to compare traditional sticky notes with our critique notes system in a simulated final critique session. Involving 5 student critics and 1 presenter, we gathered feedback through follow-up interviews to understand the user experience and identify areas for improvement.
Observations and Feedback
Final Design
User Journey Mapping
Our System
Look & Feel
The ‘C’ in the ‘Critique’ tool kit was derived from a magnifying glass that symbolizes the act of examining work at a deeper level.
Warm earthy and neutral colors were chosen to foster comfort, encouragement, and easy personalization upon use.
Impact
120 Students Reached
Piloted across 3 higher-education design courses; 120+ students used Critique Notes during final crits to capture and synthesize peer feedback in real time.
2× More Actionable
Structured digital notes surfaced twice as many actionable revisions per session vs. freeform handwritten feedback in comparative user testing.
Digital Format
The digital format made the feedback easier to read and more organized, but it lost some of the personal touch and engagement that came with handwriting. While it helped with clarity, the process of organizing, saving, and sending the files added a layer of complexity that wasn’t as intuitive as simply writing feedback by hand and passing it to a peer. The digital approach felt less spontaneous and more like a task, whereas handwriting allowed for more organic, immersive and personal exchanges.
Physical Format
The handwritten feedback approach offered a more personal and informal space for students to articulate their opinions, which helped foster a stronger sense of engagement and connection with the critique process. While some students found it challenging to organize their thoughts within the limited space of the paper, many still preferred the handwritten format for the intimacy it provided. Several reflected that the time and care it took to write their feedback made them more willing to participate thoughtfully in verbal critiques and engage more deeply with their peers’ projects.
Publication
On February 2, 2025, Critique Notes was published as part of "Evolving Design Critique for a Changing Industry" on the RISD College Commons, contributing to research on enhancing critique structures in design education. This work was developed through the ReAssembling ID course at the Rhode Island School of Design, focusing on fostering more structured, inclusive, and engaging feedback practices.
Retrospect
Key Learnings
A few things to takeaway from this very special and extensive project driven by research, real-world insights, and supportive people...
