CS 3724:  Introduction to HCI

Homework 4:  Project Critique

The goal of this homework is to gain experience in reviewing and critiquing design plans produced by others.  In this homework, you will critique the Project Step 2 (Design phase) document produced by one of the other project teams in the class.  That team will receive your critique and respond to it.

TA Alex will send you by email an electronic copy of the Design document submission from another team. Your job is to read and understand their project and give them constructive feedback. Being able to give criticism that others can hear and act on requires practice. Think carefully about what you say. You need to be a good critic; the teams will need to be able respond to your criticism, including perhaps incorporating ideas that you suggest into their design.

Your 2-page written critique should include:

• The name of the team whose Design you are critiquing.
• Your first paragraph should summarize your understanding of what the team project is trying to do. (This way the team can see how well they are communicating.)
• That should be followed by your assessment of the aspects of the project design (their Final Design) that seem to best meet the stated goals.
• Then you should enumerate problems you see with their design concept, suggesting alternatives or improvements. You should reconsider the alternatives that the team compared in their concept selection when suggesting alternatives.  Justify your criticisms with appropriate reasoning and evidence.

Bring TWO paper copies of your critique to class:  1 anonymous submission to give to the other team, and 1 named submission for grading.