Summary
In the last 20 years as a Designer/Researcher, Joe Meersman has learned a thing or two about quality and scale. Join him for a presentation that outlines tactics for delivering quality outcomes, regardless of team size, by practicing critiques. One part Design Ops, one part Design School, Joe will provide actionable tips for facilitating critiques that will improve User Experiences.
Key Insights
-
•
Critiques sharpen design skills and elevate overall craft.
-
•
Active participation in critiques enhances team cohesion and collaboration.
-
•
Feedback should be specific and actionable for it to be effective.
-
•
Recognition of emotional responses in critique settings is crucial for constructive dialogue.
-
•
Design leaders should foster a safe environment to encourage open critiques.
-
•
Different types of critiques (ad hoc, informal, formal) serve unique purposes.
-
•
Establishing a critique framework can help teams maintain focus on quality outcomes.
-
•
Listening actively during critiques is essential for personal and team growth.
-
•
Critiques should start early in the project lifecycle to maximize their effectiveness.
-
•
Inclusion and diversity in critique settings enhance the quality of feedback.
Notable Quotes
"Sweating the pixel means paying attention to the details and maintaining quality."
"Critiques are great opportunities to demonstrate your strengths and identify areas for growth."
"The first designer vented without providing context, failing to guide the criticism process."
"Ad hoc critiques provide valuable real-time feedback when it matters most."
"You don't want to mix and match types of critiques; just pick one and give it a try."
"A well-run design critique requires both humility and activeness in listening."
"Active listening means thanking others for their input—even when it hurts."
"Critiques are uniquely tied to the design profession; they can significantly improve our craft."
"Be tool agnostic when experimenting with asynchronous critiques; find what clicks for your team."
"Share work in progress to solicit input that can be effectively acted upon."
More Videos
"Without drugs, people would be sick, and without UX, they wouldn't be able to use the drugs."
Mike OrenWhy Pharmaceutical's Research Model Should Replace Design Thinking
March 28, 2023
"Leadership is not about titles or positions, it's about influencing another's life."
Edward CuppsThe Principal Path: Journeying from Management to Individual Contributor
June 11, 2021
"A designer juggling multiple teams has to decide which two people am I going to piss off today."
Jeff GothelfThe Intersection of Lean and Design
January 10, 2019
"I'm feeling really self-conscious about that"
Dan WillisTheme 3: Intro
January 8, 2024
"Happier designers lead to lower attrition rates."
Kristin Skinner Kamdyn MooreGroup Activity: A Deep Dive Into Value and Outcomes
October 23, 2019
"Starting from scratch is both exciting and hard."
John DonmoyerShipping your code generation experiments to production
June 11, 2025
"My job was to find out why. Why was he frowning? Why was he sighing?"
Susan Simon-DanielsWar Stories LIVE! Susan Simon-Daniels
March 30, 2020
"I humbly put forth this recommendation for us all to adhere to page limits."
Emily LessardRFPs Without Tears: Writing Inclusive RFPS that Don't Scare Away Talent
December 9, 2021
"When the world is silent, even one voice makes a difference."
Robin Beers Nalini Kotamraju Andy WarrPanel: Excellence in Communicating Insights
March 26, 2024
