Since college I’ve been deprived of anyone to turn to for design ideas, feedback, etc. I never thought I would miss those brutal (yet informative and inspirational) attacks otherwise known as Critiques. However I am now convinced that it is one of the most important processes of design simply because I have lacked it in nearly all of my professional experience.
A few days ago I received an email that changed that. Andrew from Concept Feedback informed me of their new site. I checked it out today and, less than 24 hours later, I am hooked. I’ve grown tired and weary of Gallery sites that just display the “best” designs determined by the elusive “them”. In contrast, this is a site that allows you to submit your own work directly and have people comment on and critique it. Thus far I’ve posted three of my latest designs, starting with the Shade of Green site concept.
The feedback has been far more harsh than I anticipated (albeit constructive), and confusing. I based the design on a grid but used a combination of inspiration (part of which from Elliot Jay Stocks’ book, Sexy Web Design) and broke out of the grid slightly. Apparently breaking out of the box and trying to be innovative is not as welcomed among designers as I thought it would be. I figured if anyone would have an issue with the design, it would be the Average Joe that just turned his computer on for the first time in a month or five.
Oh well. I am trying to figure out how to use these critiques to better the design, but still remain with breaking the box slightly.