Criticism is very important for improvement, whether critiquing other’s work or getting reviews on your own work by some other designer. Now a days, as a Web designer, getting reviews on my work is in my daily job routine and now I have started enjoying that session because it gives me opportunity to grow myself from other’s point of view as well. Earlier I used to hate going to the conference room and taking reviews because it used to be difficult to change everything in the layout so many times. And when I used to see the last version of my work, it used to look totally different from my first visualization. Giving reviews is also useful because you get to know what the other designer thinks when he is making the layout or design and you can take inspiration from his designs and thought process.
We all must remember some points when we get reviews, so that it can be helpful in future. Some of the points are as follows:
1 ) Have the right attitude
Don’t be defensive when somebody gives a negative opinion about your design. First listen to their full review carefully, and then if you think that your point is strong and valid, present your points to the critic. Criticism is not only related with taking reviews, but it also relates to discussion of the project/client’s requirement.
2 ) Understand the Objective
Your design should be based on your clients’ need and not on how creative you are. Sometimes it happens that a design is very attractive but does not fit in with what your client needs. Then your hard work will be wasted because your design did not keep the client in mind,and no matter how good it may look on your portfolio, it will be rejected.
3 ) Be specific
Be very specific about your design and it’s utility, so that if somebody cross questions you then you are ready to give all the reasons behind your design/layout. Don’t put anything in your layout just for show because it may it may looks good but this gives a wrong impression of the designer and his understanding of the project.
4) Separate Wheat From The Chaff
A comment like “I don’t like it” is the most discouraging comment, so try to avoid saying it. Mention the specific points and areas which you didn’t like. Sometimes when clients say that they don’t like a design, they mean that they don’t like a specific part of the design, or a particular color, but are unable to explain this. So try to question them politely, and it will make your task easy.
5 ) Learn from your mistakes
Whenever you make any design and alter it, always try to keep versions of it. So after completing your design ,you can take ideas from your previous versions and improve it.
6 ) Look for a new idea
It is not necessary that all your layout ideas come from other different layouts , they can come from anywhere. So always keep your eyes open to everything. Many times I gets an inspiration for a layout from a magazine, or from a house design. So it is possible to get the idea from anywhere around you.
7 ) Always thank your Critic
You should always thank your critic because he is the only person who is showing you the right path to improving yourself.

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