5 Proven Ways to Improve Digital Products Through Design Critique

Bringing in an outside reviewer for your digital product isn’t just about getting a second opinion. It’s about gaining a fresh perspective and breaking free from internal bias. Whether it’s a consultant, facilitator, or design partner, an external critique can uncover insights that teams often miss. At OCAD U CO, our Design Critique Lab is built around that philosophy.

Here are five things we do consistently during design critiques and why they matter for your product’s success:

1. Clarify the Value Proposition

   
   

Before diving into screens and flows, we ask: what does the product do? Who is it for, and why does it matter? Our designers can quickly spot jargon, confusing messages, or unclear onboarding flows that insiders may have normalised. If users can’t immediately grasp your product’s value, you risk losing them before they even begin.

2. Review the Experience Like a Naïve User

   
   

A fresh set of eyes is invaluable when assessing how intuitive a product is, hence why we adopt a “first-time user” mindset. Can someone with zero context understand the use of the product? Our Design Critiques highlight accessibility issues such as low contrast, poor screen reader compatibility, or missing keyboard navigation; all things often neglected until they become a roadblock for real users.

3. Test for Consistency Across Touchpoints

Users expect a seamless experience, whether they’re on desktop or mobile devices or reaching out for support. We compare and contrast across your channels to find mismatches, tone inconsistencies, or functional gaps that undermine the user’s trust and experience.

4. Find End-to-End Journeys

   
   

Our critiques look beyond the screen. What happens before, during, and after a user engages with your product? From onboarding to retention, signup to support, we map the entire journey, uncovering handoffs or misalignments that frustrate customers the most.

5. Reveal Strategic Blindspots

Every team has assumptions about users, technology, or the market itself. Over time, these assumptions can become internal biases that limit innovation. Our Design Critique challenges these blind spots, tearing down “this is how we always do it” thinking and inspiring future-forward ideas.

Our Design Critique Lab offers a 360 expert evaluation of your product or platform from interaction design to value proposition and accessibility. Learn more here.