In-Progress critiques for Textile Design

We are about a third of the way through the semester, and the graduate students of Textile Design just participated in our second in-progress critique. This is a way to get ongoing feedback from peers and other faculty. It’s pretty casual and the work shown is not expected to be in a finished state.

Feedback is essential to the growth of any creative practice. Working in isolation often limits our perspective; what feels clear to us as makers may not be as obvious to an outside viewer. Sometimes our intended message comes through, and sometimes it doesn’t—but it’s difficult to recognize that when we are immersed in the work. As the saying goes, it’s hard to see the forest for the trees.

The second in-progress critique in the MSTD program takes a different approach from our usual presentation-style critiques. For this session, students post their work to the pin boards hanging in our shared studio space and may also pose questions they have for the viewers. These questions range from the straightforward, “Does this color work within the story?”, to the conceptual “Is the theme of my work apparent?”. Their peers and faculty then respond by writing notes on index cards and placing them into each student’s envelope. We suggest including three identified strengths and two opportunities for growth. Participants may sign their names or remain anonymous, creating space for candid and independent feedback.

This silent critique format serves two key purposes. First, it provides an equitable platform for both peers and faculty to share their observations. Second, it maximizes time: with everyone circulating and writing simultaneously, the group can exchange a wide range of feedback efficiently. Afterward, students present one-minute “elevator pitches” to introduce their concepts and collections. The session concludes with time to read the written feedback and a group discussion highlighting overarching themes.