Today, a ten-year-old reviewed a professional identity card that I have been designing.
She didn't know anything about insurance.
She didn't know anything about surveying.
She simply picked up coloured pens and marked the design.
🟢 "This could use more decoration."
🟣 "This looks good."
🔴 "Are you sure you want this?"
🟡 "Are you sure this works?"
Her comments reminded me of something I have experienced throughout my engineering career.
The designer is rarely the only designer.
Every honest review leaves a fingerprint on the final product.
A client.
A colleague.
A user.
A child.
Each sees something different.
The challenge is not defending the design.
The challenge is recognising which criticism deserves to change it.
Today, our design became better—not because someone praised it, but because someone asked,
- *"Are you sure?"**
I have always believed that criticism, when offered sincerely and received without ego, is one of the most valuable design tools we possess.
Perhaps the best designers are not those who receive the fewest comments.
Perhaps they are the ones who know how to listen.