UX Academy: Group Crits

 

 

 

 

This article covers everything you need to know about Group Crits during your UX Academy course.

Questions covered in this article:

 

 

 

 

 

What is a Group Crit?

Group Crits simulate real-world design reviews, offering practice in presenting, receiving feedback, and giving constructive criticism. They are vital for building essential design skills.

Group Crit sessions are 1 hour and we use a free video conference tool called Zoom. During sessions, students will use the Screen Share function to present their work. Your work doesn't need to be in any particular format, in fact, we encourage students to show their work in progress!

Your work doesn't need to be complete in order to present. Many students use this time to brainstorm, ask questions, get ideas, etc. from fellow UX Academy peers and this is absolutely the type of collaborative thought and action we love to see.

Group Crits are a place for you to practice articulating the thought process behind your design decisions. It’s often the best use of the sessions to discuss work in progress, obstacles you’re facing, or anything else that’s on your mind from a design perspective.

The Group Crit facilitator is responsible for making sure that everyone has an opportunity to contribute to the discussion.

If you haven't used Zoom in the past, you'll be prompted to download the client when you join your first critique by clicking on the meeting link in #uxa-group-crits Discord channel when it's posted. 

If you'd like to be prepared, feel free to download the Zoom meeting client here. It's free to join - you are not required to pay for any of Zoom's paid plans.

If you don’t have any visual design to show on any given call, that’s not a problem. Group Crits are open for you to discuss your work, whatever stage you’re at in the design process. 

You’re welcome to join Group Crits as early as week 1. Even if you’re in your first week of UX Academy, please feel empowered to join and discuss what you’re learning! We recommend that you attend your first session no later than week 2.  

Each student on the call will have 7–10 minutes to present and discuss their work with the group. We still expect newer students to be active participants during Group Crit sessions. Making the effort to ask questions, or give constructive feedback, will count as participation.

Attending Group Crits

Group Crits are an important part of the program, missing some sessions won't impact your graduation or standing in the program, but it is a factor considered when determining eligibility for the Tuition Reimbursement Policy.

Please review our policies and your UX Academy Student Agreement for details regarding the Group Crits attendance requirement.

Students are only able to receive one Group Crit credit per week. We also ask that students only attend one session per week to ensure everyone in the student community has the opportunity to meet their Group Crit requirement.  

Please note that each week runs from Monday to Sunday in UX Academy and you can still attend Group Crits and earn attendance credit while you’re paused.

When you log in to the Designlab platform and view your Dashboard, you’ll see a link to Group Crits in the sidebar menu. Click the button to open the booking modal and book your Group Crit session. Here's a short video with more info:

 

 

When it's time for your session, your Group Crit Facilitator will post a link for you to join in the #uxa-group-crits channel on the UX Academy Discord server.

Note that we use Zoom to host Group Crits (it’s similar to Skype and Google Hangouts). It's free to sign up, make sure you download Zoom ahead of time! 

You can view your attendance in the Attendance Tracker, which can be found in the Group Crits section of the Student Dashboard. 

You have viewing access to Attendance Tracker, and Group Crit facilitators have editing access. Facilitators are expected to mark completed attendance credits within 24 hours after the session.

If you have any questions about credit for a session you've attended, please connect with the facilitator of the session for help as a first step. If the facilitator is unable to address your attendance tracker concerns, please reach out to us here and we’ll help get it sorted.

When reserving your spot in a session, you will be asked to provide the following: 

  1. First name
  2. Last name
  3. Email address
  4. Cohort name 

Please note: we require all of this information to book your spot—even if the booking tool doesn’t have them marked as “required”. If your RSVP has missing or incorrect information, the booking will be cancelled, and you will be responsible for rebooking the session.

If you have to cancel your RSVP less than 24 hours before a Group Crit session, or if I can’t show up, you won’t get credit for attending that session, and you’ll have to RSVP to another session for that credit to count. We really want to avoid this as it prevents other students from booking that session—so please be courteous to your peers by planning ahead, and not blocking spaces in Group Crits sessions that you won’t attend.

To cancel your RSVP please refer to the confirmation email you received when booking the session. At the bottom of the email there is a section titled “Make Changes to this Event” with options to cancel or reschedule.

 

Roles and expectations

Mentor Sessions vs. Group Crit sessions: 

Mentor sessions are 1-on-1 calls for you and your mentor to discuss your work and progress. Think of this as the equivalent of meeting with your creative director, boss, or project manager. You’ll work with your mentor to get expert feedback on design work, and help you meet project requirements and deadlines.

Group Crits are peer-learning, group video sessions with other students. Their purpose is to give you opportunities to practice presenting your works, listening to critique, and offering constructive critique to others. Think of this as a design team meeting, where everyone comes together to share what they’ve been working on. 

Facilitators are here to keep the conversation structured, engaging, and participatory. They will:

  • Guide discussions
  • Keep discussions focused 
  • Manage time 
  • Monitor & encourage participation
  • Provide timely comments

We expect students to show up to engage in thoughtful design discussions:

  • Come prepared to present work and questions
  • Be receptive to feedback 
  • Actively engage in meaningful participation
  • Maintain positive & respectful communication

You can review the credit requirements here.

 What constitutes “meaningful participation”?

  • This is about offering feedback that is thoughtful, and empathetic towards the person you are speaking to and the situation they are in. Your comments should always have the aim of helping your fellow students, so please consider how you can offer actionable critique to the best of your ability.

 Examples:

“I really like your choice of color palette—I wouldn’t have guessed that you’ve been struggling with it. One thing I find helpful when putting together a color palette is reminding myself to visualize how each color will be used. It’s like a mental checklist to test if your choices will work well for their intended purpose.”

 “I’d recommend for the next time you’re conducting user research: focus on what exactly your research question is first before choosing your research method. My mentor said this to me once, and it’s led me to much stronger insights.”

 “I think the placement of this icon is great, but maybe you can add a bit more nuance to its design? That might help the overall visual impact of this landing page. Small details go a long way in my opinion!”

 What constitutes “poor participation”?

  • This is often the result of offering only short, insightful sentences without elaborating or explaining your reasoning. This doesn’t contribute to a healthy dialogue, and therefore aren’t counted as participation. 

 Examples:

“I think this is fine.”

“I like it, I don’t have anything else to add.”

“Maybe you should make your icons bigger.” 

For more help, check out two of our resources on design critiques:

  1. 17 principles for giving highly valuable design feedback
  2. How to ask for design feedback: 10 top tips

Preparing for Group Crits

Group Crits are a judgement-free zone. This is where you’ll learn not only how to speak about your work, but also how to collaborate with other designers to solve problems. The facilitator running the session will be there with you every step of the way, and they will ensure that the group is having a healthy and respectful conversation.

If you’re nervous or shy, feel free to chat with the facilitator privately before the start of the session so that they’re aware of how they can help you. Our goal is to help you build confidence as a designer through Group Crits.

These guidelines will help you get prepared to put your best foot forward:

  • Define your project/deliverable goals 
  • Structure your presentation to be clear, lead with context 
  • Keep it concise, aim for 4-mins or less
  • Highlight areas you would appreciate focused feedback on
  • Be receptive to feedback to improve your design
  • Anticipate resources to share & double-check links (verify access settings for viewing)
  • Student Prep Template: You can use this template to prepare how to present your work in a Group Crit. Check out the examples, and use the blank form below.

Format and Guidelines

Note: The duration of each section will be adjusted based on the group size, complexity of the work, and available time.

Check-ins: 

  • Quick introductions to determine the session's agenda and order. Briefly mention your cohort/phase, current project/program status, and the topic(s) you'd like to present and discuss today.

Presentations & Feedback: 

  • Concise Presentations: Each student briefly presents their work (4-mins or less), leaving enough time for discussion. Request specific/focused feedback.
  • Group Discussion: Following each presentation, the group will prioritize requested feedback and meaningfully discuss, ask questions, and provide suggestions. 

Optional Activities: (if there is extra time)

  • Q&A
  • Open forum discussions 
  • Interactive exercises
  • Collaborative activities
  • Etc.

Conclusion: 

  • Wrap-up: The facilitator wraps up the session with any final instructions or reminders. 
  • Seek Feedback Proactively: Don't be afraid to ask for feedback outside of Group Crits by reaching out to your peers or utilizing the appropriate Discord resources for further discussion.

Presenter:

Participant:


🎥 (Required for credit) Video on when speaking – Treat this like a team meeting. Be present and respectful.


🖼 Frame the conversation – What will you be presenting? What stage is the work currently in?


Set participation guidelines – What are you looking for ideas or feedback on?


🥅 Lead with context – Kickoff with project goals and any necessary background.


🔗 Share your work in progress – Make sure your link(s) can be viewed properly by setting the correct permissions. 


💗 Be receptive to feedback – Assume positive intent of others and receive feedback with grace. 


✍️Take notes Document key feedback and insights for future reference.


🎤 (Required for credit) Offer feedback to others – Don’t just present, remember to actively engage in discussion of others’ work. 


Helpful Links:


🎥 (Required for credit) Video on when speaking – Treat this like a team meeting. Be present and respectful.


🎤 (Required for credit) Verbally contribute to discussion multiple times – Participate in discussions when others are sharing their work or brainstorming through ideas. Presenting does not replace active participation. 


🤔 Start with clarifying questions – If you’ve got them, chances are others do too!


✋ Follow participation guidelines – Keep presenter’s preferences in mind.


🧠Be thoughtful  Address the specific feedback requested. Offer thoughtful, insightful & actionable feedback/suggestions. Provide relevant examples whenever possible. 


👂Actively listen – Pay attention to the discussion and add to the conversation by building on what has already been discussed.


💭 Make space for others – Be mindful of patterns of participation and open the circle to new voices.


Helpful Links:


Disclaimer:

  • Facilitator design guidance should be taken as only suggestions and opinions based on personal experiences. Students are free to proceed with feedback or decide against it with the guidance of their mentor.

  • Facilitator advice may not accurately reflect the current official policies. For all accurate policy information, students should consult the Designlab CX team directly.

 

Relevant Links: