Do you feel apprehensive about critiquing design work?

It makes sense — lots of time and energy are spent to create something that someone is proud of, and now it’s on the chopping block. Sometimes alongside the ego of its creator.

But that very chopping block — the perceptions of our users or colleagues — is how we hone ideas into their best possible form. Even as designers, we can’t see things from every possible angle. One need not be a designer to bring a useful alternative perspectives.

Critique helps our teammates grow and do better next time. It ensures that we release work that the whole team is proud of.

Despite its importance, giving feedback about work can still be uncomfortable. And so can hearing it.

To navigate the discomfort, try to:

• Remember that it’s not personal; we all want the best possible outcomes. A mature designer wants to produce great work. Your perspective can help them.

• Lean into the trusting working relationship you’ve built with your teammates. They should know that you mean well. In fact, they rely on you to be honest with them.

• Being clear about the “why” behind your observations, rather than telling the person what to do. 

So today’s reminder: It’s your job to speak up about work in progress. Seek feedback on your own work, and know that your perspective can help others. Giving feedback is not always easy. But it’s only through iteration that we evolve good ideas into great ones.