We often discuss the changes needed for automotive companies to be successful and “up-to-date” in an increasingly demanding technological world.  One of the ways design studios are starting to embrace technology is based on the tried-and-true method of critiquing the work of other Designers.  Group critiques, or “crits” as we affectionately call them, are a part of the design world that no other field or industry engages in.  It opens the floor to opinion from other designers, often leading to vastly improved products visually, increased effectiveness and appropriateness of a design, and market-leading products.  In fact without crits a design can end up short-sighted and a designer not pushed further towards a proper direction.

With the usage of new tools and design methods, critiques must adapt to better serve the designers AND the product.  Modern methods of bettering design critiques include Smart Board (interactive white board) usage with notation and sketch overlays, increased usage of technologies such as WebX and GoToMeeting, and even video conferencing.

Local Motors has a unique situation: Being an online community of designers, students, engineers, and car aficionados they must allow for a variety of feedback from potential customers & designers in order to make their product successful, as well as provide feedback to hopeful designers in improving their concepts and design skills.

The method they decided to employ is unique, but steeped in what the community already knows.

Read on to find out how.

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