I don’t know, I just like it: Exploring how design students think about criticism

Critique, criticism and critical thinking are essential tools for design. Not only do they inform design process but they also provide a means to make sense of the designed objects, environments and communication embedded in the way we live. However, traditional education models that compartmentalize and separate design theory and practice may be making it difficult for students to see how the practice of thinking about design informs the practice of doing design, and vice versa. This has led to a misunderstanding of what criticism is, slowed skill and knowledge development necessary to do criticism, and impeded the ability of students to recognize the value of criticism to design practice. This article reports on data collected and analysed as part of an exploratory study examining how design students understand and think about criticism and whether they value it as part of their practice.