The Critique Practice That Shaped Me

In college, I took a class called Basic Design. Each week, we made something—an art piece, a visual experiment, a study in composition. When we were done, we’d put our work up around the room and talk about it together.

Not casually. Intentionally.

We went one piece at a time, naming what worked—color choices, use of space, visual weight—and what might be improved. Balance. Texture. Line. Rhythm. Each observation had to be specific. No “I like it” or “it’s cool.” The goal was to see clearly and speak precisely.

When it was your piece, you didn’t explain it. You didn’t defend it. You just listened.

Learning to See, Learning to Hear

At first, this felt awkward. Vulnerable. Even a little painful. But over time, I started to look forward to it. Not just for the feedback on my own work, but for the chance to practice seeing. Giving critique sharpened my eye. Receiving it made me stronger. It taught me how to hear feedback without being crushed by it. That was new.

It also taught me that critique is a skill—one you can develop. One that requires care, curiosity, and restraint. You can aim to strengthen someone’s work without diminishing their spirit. You can notice what’s working before you offer what’s missing. You can speak with clarity and kindness at the same time.

Feedback That Builds, Not Breaks

I haven’t always gotten that balance right. There was a stretch in my career where I slipped into offering only critique—no celebration, no encouragement. It wasn’t because I didn’t see the good; I just moved too fast to name it. The intention was never to tear down, but I’ve learned that impact matters more than intent. Since then, I’ve tried to be more deliberate. More generous. More whole in how I give feedback.

That class shaped me. I still carry its lessons—into leadership, into collaboration, into parenting. I try to see what’s good. I try to name it. And when something could be better, I try to offer that not as a judgment, but as a gift.

Because that’s what good critique is. A gift you learn to give well.