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Design Critique Session

Independent review of work in progress with practical, actionable feedback from an experienced designer.

Fixed Price

£75 per hour

Designed for

  • Designers and design teams
  • Work in progress
  • Flows, wireframes, prototypes and UI
  • Practical, actionable feedback
  • Flexible hourly sessions

Need something different? Regular critique sessions or ongoing design support can be arranged where required.

What a design critique session actually is

Good critique makes work better. Bad critique just makes it different.

A Design Critique Session is an independent, structured review of design work in progress, covering flows, wireframes, prototypes, UI or design decisions, with practical feedback from an experienced designer.

Rather than vague opinions, the session focuses on whether the design solves the right problem, where users are likely to struggle and what to change before the work goes further.

You’ll leave with clear, actionable feedback you can apply immediately.

Common problems

01

You’re too close to the work

A fresh, experienced pair of eyes catches what the team can no longer see.

02

Internal feedback is vague or political

You need independent critique focused on users, not opinions or hierarchy.

03

A decision point is approaching

You want the design pressure-tested before sign-off or development.

04

Your team lacks a senior reviewer

Nobody in-house has the experience to critique the work properly.

Why work with me

Critique is a skill, not an opinion.

I’ve spent more than twenty years designing and reviewing digital products, and critiquing work is a daily part of leading design teams.

Every session is structured, specific and grounded in user-centred design principles. Feedback explains what to change, why and what to consider instead.

Is this right for you?

What you’ll receive

01

Structured critique session

A focused review of your work in progress, live with you or your team.

02

Design review

Experienced critique of flows, wireframes, prototypes, UI or design decisions.

03

Usability perspective

Feedback grounded in how real users are likely to experience the design.

04

Prioritised feedback

The changes that matter most, distinguished from the ones that can wait.

05

Discussion and questions

Time to explore alternatives and reasoning, not just receive comments.

06

Follow-up notes

Concise notes capturing the key feedback and agreed actions.

What’s not included

  • Design production work
  • Full UX audit or formal review report
  • User research or usability testing
  • Ongoing mentoring (available separately as Design Mentoring)
  • Development support

Example deliverables

01

Critique session notes

A concise record of the feedback, discussion points and agreed actions.

02

Prioritised feedback summary

The most important changes, ranked, with rationale.

03

Suggested next steps

Practical actions to take before the next design iteration.

04

Action checklist

A focused list of changes ready for planning.

Typical timeline

Session

Critique and discussion

Walk through the work, critique it together and agree the changes that matter most.

Follow-up

Notes and next steps

Receive concise notes, prioritised feedback and suggested next steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of work can you critique?

Almost anything in progress: user flows, wireframes, prototypes, high-fidelity UI, design system components or a design decision the team is wrestling with. Typical examples include early concepts, designs approaching sign-off, work heading into development or portfolio pieces.

Should the whole team join?

It’s up to you. Sessions work one-to-one or with the whole design team present. Team sessions often double as practical critique training.

Is this the same as a Design Review?

No. A Design Review is a two-week engagement producing a full report on a product’s design. A Design Critique Session is a fast, focused review of work in progress, priced by the hour.

How long should we book?

Most critiques work well in two hours, enough time to walk through the work, discuss it properly and agree actions. Larger amounts of work may need longer.

Where are you based?

I’m based in Manchester, UK and work with organisations across the UK, Europe and internationally. Most projects are delivered remotely, although I’m happy to travel for workshops, stakeholder sessions and key project milestones where required.

Do you work remotely?

Yes. Most projects are delivered remotely using Microsoft Teams, Google Meet or Zoom. Working remotely allows me to support organisations across the UK and internationally while remaining flexible and cost-effective.

Will I work directly with you?

Yes. Every project is delivered by me. If additional specialist support is ever needed, I’ll discuss it with you first, but you’ll always work directly with me throughout the project.

Can you work alongside our existing team?

Absolutely. Many clients already have designers, researchers, developers or product managers in place. I can provide additional capacity, independent advice or senior support without disrupting the way your team already works.

Do you only work with large organisations?

No. I’ve worked with startups, SMEs, agencies, charities, public sector organisations and global enterprises. Every engagement is tailored to the size, complexity and goals of the organisation.

What if my project doesn’t fit one of your fixed engagements?

The fixed engagements are designed around the most common types of engagement. If your project requires something different, I’ll create a bespoke proposal based on your goals, timescales and scope.

How quickly can you start?

Availability varies throughout the year, but many fixed engagements can begin within one to two weeks. If you have an urgent requirement, let me know and I’ll always do my best to accommodate it.

Do you sign NDAs and work with confidential information?

Yes. Much of my work has involved commercially sensitive products, government services and confidential research. I’m happy to sign NDAs and regularly work with organisations where confidentiality is essential.

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

Ready to improve your product?

UX, research and product leadership for teams tackling complex digital services.

Previous feedback

I had a fantastic experience working with Andy. One of his most impressive achievements during our time at NHS HEE was masterminding a deeply complex information architecture for a new platform that brought together a large number of legacy websites.

Will Parkhouse

Senior Content Designer

If you’re looking for independent review of work in progress with practical, actionable feedback from an experienced designer, let’s discuss whether Design Critique Session is the right place to start.