Read on Twitter
I’m an artist and hire them, and worked on tech design teams, so I’ve been on both sides of the critique table. A good critique is a two-way street that leads to your progress, or away from it. Here are my thoughts on
How To Receive Constructive Critique
THREAD
How To Receive Constructive Critique
THREAD
2/
For reference my thread on giving constructive critique aka the critique every artist deserves is here: https://twitter.com/marcscheff/status/1275619042741620736
For reference my thread on giving constructive critique aka the critique every artist deserves is here: https://twitter.com/marcscheff/status/1275619042741620736
3/
1) Be coachable
If you’ve asked for a critique, challenge yourself to be willing to try the suggestions given. They may not make sense to you, maybe you already tried it. Still, trying again with new insight may help. You can show this by employing the following mindsets.
1) Be coachable
If you’ve asked for a critique, challenge yourself to be willing to try the suggestions given. They may not make sense to you, maybe you already tried it. Still, trying again with new insight may help. You can show this by employing the following mindsets.
Fwiw if the critique is unsolicited unless it’s someone close or a trusted resource, it’s ok to ignore. If you’re showing a new favorite piece and a troll feels like it’s his job to find your flaws, that ain’t constructive.
My pronoun was intentional. I’ve only seen men do this
My pronoun was intentional. I’ve only seen men do this
5/
On coachability: If you’re an athlete and the coach says your form could be better, would you say thanks but nah? No. You’d try it. If that doesn’t work you’d get more feedback and try again.
It’s a marathon not a sprint and critique is part of good training.
On coachability: If you’re an athlete and the coach says your form could be better, would you say thanks but nah? No. You’d try it. If that doesn’t work you’d get more feedback and try again.
It’s a marathon not a sprint and critique is part of good training.
6/
3) Ask for what you want
At the beginning of the review let the reviewer know what you want. Feedback on style or technique? Overall portfolio? Overall readiness for a particular industry? Career advice?
Help them focus feedback on where you’re excited to grow.
3) Ask for what you want
At the beginning of the review let the reviewer know what you want. Feedback on style or technique? Overall portfolio? Overall readiness for a particular industry? Career advice?
Help them focus feedback on where you’re excited to grow.
7/
4) Share where you think your are
As a reviewer, knowing that the artists has a sense of self-awareness really frees me up to share more. If I know where you are, I can better offer a next relevant step. And if I know that _you_ know where you are, much less stress.
4) Share where you think your are
As a reviewer, knowing that the artists has a sense of self-awareness really frees me up to share more. If I know where you are, I can better offer a next relevant step. And if I know that _you_ know where you are, much less stress.
8/
If you let a reviewer know “I’m new and building my portfolio” or “this is a WIP” or even “I’ve gotten some jobs and want to level up” then I am better equipped to focus my feedback.
If you let a reviewer know “I’m new and building my portfolio” or “this is a WIP” or even “I’ve gotten some jobs and want to level up” then I am better equipped to focus my feedback.
9/
Help the reviewer know how to best help you. Imagine you’re a white belt and you ask a black belt for advice without telling them your level of experience. If they don’t know you’re a white belt they may offer advice you don’t know how to even use.
Help the reviewer know how to best help you. Imagine you’re a white belt and you ask a black belt for advice without telling them your level of experience. If they don’t know you’re a white belt they may offer advice you don’t know how to even use.
10/
5) Don’t tear yourself down as an opener
If its unfinished draft work you can say that to set context, but don’t say why they’re “bad.” It doesn’t make you look smart or confident. Real confidence is showing the work and letting it ride.
5) Don’t tear yourself down as an opener
If its unfinished draft work you can say that to set context, but don’t say why they’re “bad.” It doesn’t make you look smart or confident. Real confidence is showing the work and letting it ride.
11/
If you’re looking for feedback, then you understand that every artist knows their work can improve. You already said that implicitly when you signed up for the review. No need to tear your own work down on top of it.
If you’re looking for feedback, then you understand that every artist knows their work can improve. You already said that implicitly when you signed up for the review. No need to tear your own work down on top of it.
12/
6) Don’t argue
Nothing will clam up a reviewer faster than you explaining why you did something they think isn’t working. You may think offering an explanation will make you look smart, but it’s comes off as defensive. Full stop.
6) Don’t argue
Nothing will clam up a reviewer faster than you explaining why you did something they think isn’t working. You may think offering an explanation will make you look smart, but it’s comes off as defensive. Full stop.
13/
If you won’t listen, why would they keep talking? Responding to each observation with explaining cuts you off from potentially good conversation and new insights.
If you got nothing just nod and say “Thanks, What else do you see?”
If you won’t listen, why would they keep talking? Responding to each observation with explaining cuts you off from potentially good conversation and new insights.
If you got nothing just nod and say “Thanks, What else do you see?”
14/
6a) When you feel like explaining, ask questions instead
It shows a commitment to being coachable and will invite more gold from your review. If anything is unclear, or you have tried something already, ask them to elaborate. Maybe there’s a way to try again you don’t know.
6a) When you feel like explaining, ask questions instead
It shows a commitment to being coachable and will invite more gold from your review. If anything is unclear, or you have tried something already, ask them to elaborate. Maybe there’s a way to try again you don’t know.
15/
Sidebar: It’s fine to explain AND ask. “Huh, I did X because I thought it worked well. Can you tell me more about why it’s not and what I might do differently?”
Framing good questions will draw out your reviewer.
Sidebar: It’s fine to explain AND ask. “Huh, I did X because I thought it worked well. Can you tell me more about why it’s not and what I might do differently?”
Framing good questions will draw out your reviewer.
16/
7) Ask if you should keep going or start over.
It’s not easy to tell someone to start again. Many of us who give reviews have empathy and know that a do-over can be emotionally hard. But a do-over is a chance to do it better with new knowledge. Ask for the straight dope.
7) Ask if you should keep going or start over.
It’s not easy to tell someone to start again. Many of us who give reviews have empathy and know that a do-over can be emotionally hard. But a do-over is a chance to do it better with new knowledge. Ask for the straight dope.
17/
Being told to scrap a piece and begin again is A GIFT.
It also means the reviewer has enough faith in you to have learned so much that starting over will result in a far better piece. Rejoice that your new foundation will be much more solid than before.
Being told to scrap a piece and begin again is A GIFT.
It also means the reviewer has enough faith in you to have learned so much that starting over will result in a far better piece. Rejoice that your new foundation will be much more solid than before.
18/
8) Take compliments
@victorlavalle put it best. “When someone pays you a compliment on your work accept it. Don’t overthink or second guess it.”
An off corrollary but really, don’t argue with compliments. Same reasons. https://twitter.com/victorlavalle/status/1276844389189529602
8) Take compliments
@victorlavalle put it best. “When someone pays you a compliment on your work accept it. Don’t overthink or second guess it.”
An off corrollary but really, don’t argue with compliments. Same reasons. https://twitter.com/victorlavalle/status/1276844389189529602
19/
9) Thank them for their time.
This should go without saying... it really should. Still, letting someone know that you appreciate their time, whether compensated or especially if not, will leave a good impression and they may share their experience with others.
9) Thank them for their time.
This should go without saying... it really should. Still, letting someone know that you appreciate their time, whether compensated or especially if not, will leave a good impression and they may share their experience with others.
20/
ADs talk to each other. I can name dozens of artists whose work is in development and who I’m absolutely rooting for because they did this one simple thing: they were polite, asked questions, and said thank you.
ADs talk to each other. I can name dozens of artists whose work is in development and who I’m absolutely rooting for because they did this one simple thing: they were polite, asked questions, and said thank you.
21/
10) gratitude is good but NO GIFTS
I get it. Gifts are a way to show appreciation. Many ADs can’t accept them and it’s also huge awkward potential. What if they don’t want it?
The best gift you can give a reviewer is the promise to give their suggestions a shot. Honestly.
10) gratitude is good but NO GIFTS
I get it. Gifts are a way to show appreciation. Many ADs can’t accept them and it’s also huge awkward potential. What if they don’t want it?
The best gift you can give a reviewer is the promise to give their suggestions a shot. Honestly.
22/
Why does this matter?
I’ve seen artists become known for bad habits. Arguing, explaining, not trying suggestions. They don’t grow and if they do it’s slow.
Why does this matter?
I’ve seen artists become known for bad habits. Arguing, explaining, not trying suggestions. They don’t grow and if they do it’s slow.
23/
And worst of all I’ve seen word get around that your time is wasted offering help to someone because they’re an explainer/arguer and don’t want to receive it. They’re missing out on untappable potential.
And worst of all I’ve seen word get around that your time is wasted offering help to someone because they’re an explainer/arguer and don’t want to receive it. They’re missing out on untappable potential.
24/
If you’re not sure if you’re eliciting the best constructive critique, ask a trusted friend circle. Maybe you explain a lot, maybe you don’t ask questions. I’m saying to get a constructive critique on your ability to receive constructive critique :)
If you’re not sure if you’re eliciting the best constructive critique, ask a trusted friend circle. Maybe you explain a lot, maybe you don’t ask questions. I’m saying to get a constructive critique on your ability to receive constructive critique :)
25/
Finally a small plug. What I share here is a small part of what we talk about in our creative community all the time. If you’re an artist and want to join a community of creatives who live and breathe all of the above->
https://gumroad.com/drawnanddrafted
@DrawnAndDrafted @gumroad
Finally a small plug. What I share here is a small part of what we talk about in our creative community all the time. If you’re an artist and want to join a community of creatives who live and breathe all of the above->
https://gumroad.com/drawnanddrafted
@DrawnAndDrafted @gumroad
