Critique: a detailed analysis and assessment of something; especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory.
Evaluation: the making of a judgement about the amount, number or value of something; assessment.
'Critique' is to review something; while 'evaluate' is to conclude examining. Critique and evaluation are valuable tools as a designer.
Why is it important in design?
As a learning tool
An amazing learning tool is for you to critique and evaluate other designers' work. Have you heard the saying, 'You have an eye for that'? Through critiquing and evaluating other designers' work, you are developing your eye (meaning attention to detail). Don't know where to start? Begin by going through this module again and using it as a guide for what to review in a design.
Critique also offers a powerful learning tool for you as a designer when others critique your own work. When you design, you start off designing based on your likes/dislikes, history/design exposure and preferences. When others critique your work, you have the opportunity to view your design from a different perspective. The more you are exposed to different lenses and different ways of thinking, the more your own understanding and appreciation is developed.
It is also a great tool to get your client to critique your work, and allow space for tweaks and improvements. When a client is communicating what they envision, it can sometimes be taken out of context. When the client has the opportunity to view and critique your work then you will gain a further understanding into their perspective.
Intellectual property
(Noun) Law
A work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a manuscript or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.
Copyright
(Noun)
The exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film or record literary, artistic or musical material and to authorise others to do the same. Usage: 'He issued a writ for breach of copyright'; 'Works whose copyrights had lapsed'; i.e. a particular literary, artistic or musical work that is covered by copyright.
(Adjective)
Protected by copyright: permission to reproduce photographs and other copyright material.
(Verb)
Secure copyright for (material).
(Derivatives)
Copyrightable (Adjective).
A design in New Zealand is defined as 'the new or original features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament applied to an article by any industrial process or means'.
When you create something from nothing, be it with pen to paper, fingers on keyboard or with an instrument; you are the sole legal and moral owner of that sentence, artwork or noise, and laws exist to ensure your rights of ownership are protected.
The New Zealand Intellectual Property Office states that the copyright of your work automatically applies from the time your work was created, through your lifetime, plus an additional 50 years. What does this mean? This means that if another person or organisation would like to use your work, they will need to seek permission from you, and not claim the work as their own. Copyright is a tool to recognise your rights over your work. It doesn't prevent someone else from independently producing the same work.
Another service offered is registering your intellectual property. When you register a design in New Zealand, you’re protecting the visual appearance of an object. It must have new or original features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament.
Registration gives you a higher degree of protection than relying on copyright because it requires a search first for similar or identical New Zealand registered designs. This helps to establish whether your design is new and original.
See an example of a copyright notice below.
WARNING
This material has been reproduced and communicated to you by or on behalf of UP Education in accordance with section 113P of the Copyright Act 1968 (the Act).
The material in this communication may be subject to copyright under the Act. Any further reproduction or communication of this material by you may be the subject of copyright protection under the Act.
Do not remove this notice.
