To most designers (be they graphic, web, fine arts, or other) the skill I’m describing comes naturally. You look at someone else’s work and instantly imagine what you would have done differently. If that thought is fleeting, then you are missing an opportunity to improve your design chops. Stop for a few minutes and really dwell on the changes you would make. Why do you think your ideas are better?

It doesn’t really matter if your ideas are better; after all design is partially subjective. The point here is to engage your brain. If you are a freelancer, you probably don’t do a lot of design work in teams. For my own part, I prefer the autonomy of being a lone wolf designer, but that means I miss out on the cross-pollination of concepts that comes from a group of creative people bouncing ideas off each other.

You can’t replace that synergy by critiquing someone else’s work, but it does expose you to different approaches to design. Try to imagine what this person was thinking. What do you know about design that they don’t? And vice versa.

For a great example of this, check out an Andy Rutledge redux. He shares his evaluation process with the world in an effort to improve the design community. You don’t necessarily need to mock up a new design the way he does unless you plan on communicating your critique to the masses.

filed under: Web Development