Design Critique Session Template

Three to six people is the sweet spot. Fewer than three limits the diversity of perspectives. More than six turns the session into a presentation where only the most assertive people speak. Include at least one person from engineering (for feasibility) and one from product (for user context). If your team is larger, rotate who attends each session. The [customer journey map template](/templates/customer-journey-map-template) is useful for grounding critique discussions in real user flows.

A critique is collaborative and happens during the design process. The goal is to improve the work through constructive feedback. A review is evaluative and happens before a decision point (like engineering handoff). The goal is to approve or request changes. This template is for critiques. For reviews, add a formal "approved / approved with changes / needs rework" decision at the end.

Ground the conversation in evidence. If someone says "users won't understand this" but your research shows otherwise, share the specific data points. Say "In our interviews with 8 users, 7 completed this flow without confusion. Here is the recording." Evidence trumps opinion. If no evidence exists for either position, that is a signal to run a quick usability test before the next critique. Use the [Product Discovery Handbook](/discovery-guide) for guidance on running effective usability studies.

It depends on the team culture. If the manager can participate as an equal voice without pulling rank, include them. If their presence causes people to self-censor or defer, skip them. The facilitator's role is to ensure everyone contributes equally regardless of title. If the manager consistently dominates the conversation, have a private conversation about the critique format and expectations.

Apply the same framework. Focus on the user experience, not the production method. "I notice the layout is inconsistent between screens" is valid feedback whether a human or an AI tool created it. The only addition is to verify that AI-generated elements (copy, images, layout patterns) meet brand guidelines and accessibility standards. The [AI UX Audit tool](/tools) can help structure this evaluation. ---