Filling a gap in Design Thinking: Design critique process

Design Thinking is a popular way of enhancing the design process. Its human-centered focus and emphasis experimentation promise innovative products.

Like all simple distillations of a complex process, Design Thinking lacks important elements. It neglects concepts of Systems Thinking and its tools to identify unanticipated consequences of innovation.  Likewise, it lacks a process where other designers provide feedback on early iterations of the design: a process known as design critique or “crit.”

We have created a two-page handout to help students learn the basic elements of design critique. It draws on process formalized by L. Lerman, and adapts it to the engineering design process. This two-page handout highlights the essential elements of the critiquing process. This process can enhance the communication skills of engineering students to make them effective members of design teams.