You’ve heard the pitches. You’ve given yours. Now it’s time to review and get reviewed. It’s your final opportunity to offer critiques and receive feedback to help make your project, and those of your classmates, just that much stronger before crossing the finish line.

  1. This activity can be done as a class or in small groups.
  2. Set a time limit for the peer review session and then equally divide that time between each of the pitched projects, ensuring everyone gets to hear feedback on their work.
  3. The reviewers should be using the notes they took during the pitches, as well as the guide below. Consider offering tangible help (where possible) so the reviewee can better implement your advice.
  4. The reviewee is encouraged to record or, at least, take notes of the feedback session. You can refer to this guide on receiving criticism if you’d like. Be sure to ask for examples or tangible help (where possible) from the reviewer if you want to implement their advice.
  5. At the end of the peer review session, everyone should have a better sense of how close they are to completing their final project, and have a list of ideas that can help make it even stronger.
  6. Take the time, at home or during the next class, to rework or refine your final project based on the feedback you’ve received. This might feel like a setback or a failure, but it’s just another step towards a better outcome.

Describe

  • What is your first thought when you see the work? Describe it.
  • What materials have been used to produce it? What colours are used?
  • What’s the genre (abstract, landscape, video, stop motion, photography, etc)?
  • Explain the piece as you interpret it. What do you believe the message to be?

Analyze

  • What elements and principles of design can you pick out? What image development strategies were used?
  • Is there a title to the piece? If so, does it help you understand the message better?
  • In your opinion, what element is the main focus?
  • Do the supporting elements help add to the understanding of the visual story?
  • Why do you think the colours have been chosen?

Interpret

  • What is the purpose of the visual story? To bring awareness? To offer a solution? To invoke an emotional response like humour, reflection or inspiration?
  • What message is the creator trying to get across?
  • Is there enough detail in the work to create an effective, impactful visual story?
  • Is there anything confusing that needs clarification? Is that a positive or a negative?

Evaluate

  • Did you enjoy the piece?
  • What did you like the most?
  • Can you think of any improvements that would make this visual story more effective?
  • Does the work strike the right tone?
  • Is the message clear? Is that a good thing or not?
  • Is the work free of cultural appropriation, as well as ethical and legal problems?
  • Why do you think the creator was successful/unsuccessful in creating an impactful visual story?
  • What might you have created if given a similar challenge or opportunity?