Learning to Critique

We will finish off the critiques that we didn't get to on Monday during today's class. The crits on Monday were pretty weak, so I want some more class participation this time. Don't use terms like "I like this" or "that's cool" when critiquing someone's work. That doesn't help them. Explain WHAT makes it cool or WHAT doesn't work when talking critically about someone's work.

You can find a LOT of good information about What Goes Into a Well-Done Critique. (You'd better READ this link!)

A good critique should:

• Be specific in your likes/dislikes

• Provide educated reasoning to back up your comments

• Lead into design alternatives (if necessary)

• Compare the design to others for reinforcement

• Be firm and honest (but not a jackhole) when giving negative critique

• Look for the use of or lack of design elements and principles

- Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity, Color, Unity and Balance

• Respect the designer and the work

To test your critique knowledge after you've read the link above and looked over the list above, I'm going to give you a homework assignment:

HOMEWORK:

Find THREE different full-page ads in magazines. Different products and different companies. Yes, they MUST be out of magazines. (The Goodwill has lots of CHEAP magazines, if you need some.) Carefully remove the ads (no rough edges) so you can turn them in. Along with your three ads, I want you to critique each ad. I want a full page of critique for each ad. Touch on the finer points of the ads AS WELL AS tell me what you think doesn't work, or what could be done better. Tell me if you think it was an effective ad.

Take the weekend to think about these and have them ready to talk about and turn in on Monday.