Crit-me: A Design Criticism Community

COMMUNITY CONSENSUS ICONS

Crit-me + D&AD What is Crit-me?

Crit-me, a design criticism community, is a website concept that’s devoted to helping young, inexperienced designers understand the importance of criticism and how to use it effectively. Crit-me also aims to create a more well rounded community focused on collaboration and connectivity. I also created posters and sticker designs to launch the prototype website I coded in Processing and to get us thinking about criticism differently. I also created my own unique critique tool called “community consensus” which fills projects with icons that symbolise different opinions, also coded in Processing.

Why did I decide to create this?

I believe there is a lack of access to constructive feedback.

It’s difficult to improve if you only receive positive comments and ‘likes’ on social media. I wanted to create an alternative, a website that lets the community be more critical (with the option to give positive responses also because I believe they’re just as important). I also wanted to replicate the environment I experienced while on my placement, I felt like I became a better designer because of the access to professional opinions and it helped me get used to accepting and implementing the critiques I got, which is really important to understand when moving into a professional capacity. So why not celebrate and embrace criticism as a good thing and give designers the opportunity to get their work critiqued whenever they want?

What else have I been upto?

This book also contains my D&AD submission where I responded to the giffgaff brief. I was tasked with creating a digital brand experience that truly encapsulates the giffgaff spirit of ‘mutual giving’. I created & coded a drag and drop game that lets users move objects into their positions to earn themselves and a friend a small prize (stickers & gifs).

HOME, LOGIN & EXPERT ACCOUNT CONCEPT SCREENS

AMATEUR ACCOUNT CONCEPT SCREENS

POSTER DESIGNS: WOW,LOVE, COOL + SWEET

NOT A FAN POSTER

COMMUNITY CONSENSUS (STILL)

Community Consensus, what’s that?

Community Consensus is a unique critique tool that I coded in Processing. It allows users to choose from 8 icons varying from positive to constructive. In order for the constructive icons to actually be ‘constructive’ there is a comment box that’s connected and users are encouraged to leave a comment so the designer knows how to change their work in the future. The website would also include an annotation feature and standard written feedback at the experts disposal.

What’s the idea behind it?

Community consensus is a way for a designer to quickly and clearly see how the community feel about their work. It’s as simple as that, once responses start coming in the work is vandalised with the icons from the community which can be easily interpreted and understood. There is also statistics connected to it so if it’s not obvious then you can drill down into the details.

Stickers, why not?

I created the stickers for everyone to use and to celebrate the launch of Crit-me. They are useful for spreading awareness and creating a buzz for the site. They could also be used for decoration or even to critique someones work in public.

GRAB A GIFT (START + END SCREEN)

Grab a Gift

Grab a gift is a game that lets users grab items to rearrange them for the chance to send a friend a gift while also receiving one themselves. I also created the ‘giffts’ to give to customers are their friends. Stickers and gifs would be sent to customers and their chosen friend to create a digital brand experience that celebrates mutual giving.

SLIDES SENT TO D&AD