Course Curriculum

6 Sections
00

The Power of Design Critiques

3 Lessons 32 min
  • Course Overview & Downloads 4 min
  • What Are Design Critiques and Why Do They Matter? 5 min
  • When to Critique 4 min

Practice Activities

  • Reflect on Your Current Critique Process (Instructions) 17 min
  • Reflect on Your Current Critique Process (Walkthrough) 2 min

Resources Provided

  • 0.1_CheatSheet_Design-Critiques (PDF)
01

Plan with Purpose

6 Lessons 50 min
  • Choose the Right Format 7 min
  • Invite the Right People 4 min
  • Plan the Agenda 6 min
  • Choose the Right Tools 4 min
  • Anticipate Conflict 5 min
  • Lessons From a Tough Critique 3 min

Practice Activities

  • Plan a Critique (Instructions) 17 min
  • Plan a Critique (Walkthrough) 4 min
02

Frame and Scope Your Critique

4 Lessons 46 min
  • Scope the Critique 3 min
  • Provide Adequate Context 5 min
  • Prepare Discussion Guides 9 min
  • Set Feedback Guidelines 3 min

Practice Activities

  • Fix a Bad Critique (Instructions) 20 min
  • Fix a Bad Critique (Walkthrough) 6 min
03

Facilitate a Design Critique

3 Lessons 36 min
  • Manage Your Time 5 min
  • Encourage Participation 6 min
  • Redirect Unhelpful Feedback 4 min

Practice Activities

  • Troubleshoot Facilitation Challenges 21 min
04

Respond to Feedback

4 Lessons 40 min
  • Collect and Make Sense of Feedback 4 min
  • Prioritize and Act on Feedback 6 min
  • Iterate and Follow-up with the Group 4 min
  • Schedule Critiques on a Regular Cadence 3 min

Practice Activities

  • Synthesize and Communicate Design Feedback (Instructions) 18 min
  • Synthesize and Communicate Design Feedback (Walkthrough) 5 min
05

Conclusion

2 Lessons 6 min
  • Putting It All Together 4 min
  • Final Thoughts 2 min

Learning Outcomes

  • Structure and plan a design critique
  • Frame your work to invite constructive feedback
  • Facilitate a design critique session
  • Synthesize and respond to feedback in actionable ways

Course Preview

 to watch NN/g videos

Tools Used in This Course

To complete activities in this course, you will need access to a standard PDF reader.

Turn Problems Into Solutions

Run critiques that lead to impactful design improvements

  • Reduce ambiguity and focus team attention by setting clear goals and a structure for critique sessions
  • Stay user-focused and avoid derailing into personal preferences by guiding feedback
  • Prioritize input effectively so next steps are clear, actionable, and aligned with business and user needs

Facilitate inclusive, balanced critiques

  • Include every voice through diverge/converge techniques, written input, and direct invitations
  • Manage dominant personalities with structured formats and clear feedback expectations
  • Navigate power dynamics by setting norms that reduce hierarchy and encourage wider perspectives

Turn scattered feedback into a clear plan of action

  • Cluster raw input into meaningful themes that highlight patterns
  • Prioritize feedback to support smart, visible tradeoffs
  • Communicate next steps with summaries that build trust and keep momentum moving

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will I have access to this course?
Once purchased, your access will never expire. This ensures you can learn at your own pace and return to review content as often as you'd like, whenever you need.
Will I get personalized instructor feedback on course activities?
No, personalized feedback is not provided for activities completed during the course. Most courses provide answer keys to activities that help learners reflect on their progress and understanding of course materials and examples.
What content can I download?
You can download a variety of resources provided with each course, including templates, how-to guides, cheat sheets, posters, reading lists, and more. Video lessons provided in all courses will not be available for download.
Can I access this course offline or on a mobile device?
Offline access isn't available yet, although we plan to add it. Most courses offer downloadable resources for offline reference.

For the best experience, mobile devices are not recommended.
Is this course eligible for the NNGroup UX Certification Program?
Unfortunately, self-paced courses do not count toward UX Certification. However, learners who complete the final exam will receive a “Recognition of Completion” to demonstrate their achievement.

See our Live Online courses for options that count toward UX Certification.
What can I share with my employer to show I’ve completed the training?
Upon completing a course’s final assessment, you will receive a “Recognition of Completion” showcasing your dedication to learning the topic. This document can be shared with your employer or professional network to demonstrate your new skills and commitment to professional development.