A design critique is a structured session where a designer presents work in progress and peers respond, with the explicit goal of improving the work rather than approving it.
The distinction from a creative review matters. A review ends in a decision: ship, change, or kill. A critique ends in better options. Confusing the two produces critiques where nobody says anything difficult because they think they are voting, and reviews that dissolve into exploration when a decision was needed.
The format
The presenter frames it, briefly. What the work is trying to do, what stage it is at, and specifically what feedback would help. "I am unsure about the hierarchy in the second panel" produces useful critique; "thoughts?" produces scattered opinion.
Silent looking, two minutes. Everyone examines the work before anyone speaks. It prevents the first comment from setting the frame for all the others.
Responses go around, junior first. Same reason as in a review: the senior opinion voiced first ends the session's usefulness.
The presenter listens without defending. They may ask clarifying questions. They do not explain why the critique is wrong, because a designer defending is a designer not hearing.
The presenter summarizes at the end. What they heard, and what they intend to do. This is the moment the session converts into work.
Forty minutes for two or three pieces. Longer sessions produce diminishing quality of attention.
The rules that keep it useful
Critique the work, never the person. Standard, and worth restating because it slips.
Describe before prescribing. "My eye goes to the price before the product" is more useful than "move the price down," because it names the observation and leaves the solution open.
Reference the goal. A critique against the brief is actionable; a critique against personal taste is noise, though labelled preference is still welcome.
No solutioning in the room. Group redesign produces committee work. The presenter takes the observations away and solves them.
Nothing gets decided. If a decision is needed, that is a review, and it should be scheduled as one.
Why the format matters more with generated work
When making an option is nearly free, the scarce resource is judgment about which option is right. A team that can critique well compounds that advantage; a team that cannot ends up generating hundreds of variants and shipping whichever one the loudest person liked.
Critique is also where articulable taste gets trained. Naming why something is not working is the skill that translates directly into directing a model rather than reacting to it.
Related concepts
What is creative review covers the decision-making counterpart. How to run a creative review meeting covers the mechanics. What is a creative director covers who holds the standard the critique is measured against.
Critique works best when everyone is looking at the same surface with the options laid out side by side. The 8frame canvas is free and unlimited, and generation is paid from $19/month.