Architecture crit & presentations
What is an architecture crit?
An architecture crit is the presentation of your design work to peers, tutors, and external guests (critics) for feedback.
Design work from the start to the end of the project is displayed on a wall, with the student standing beside it and verbally presenting. This typically covers the client, research, site analysis, concept design, design development, and final proposals.
The phrase ‘architecture crit’ or ‘architecture jury’ may make some think of it as a purely negative event, but that should not be the intention; good tutors aim to celebrate and support your progression.
Architecture crits are significant events, with students often celebrating afterwards. As a student, ‘surviving’ an architecture crit was a valid reason to come together as a group and let off some steam.
How long is an architecture crit?
An architecture jury or crit typically lasts a full day, with each student presenting for 10 to 20 minutes, followed by 10 to 20 minutes of discussion and feedback from the guests, other students, and tutors.
Your tutors will expect students to watch and participate in the crits of other students.
Why do we have architecture crits?
Presenting in university prepares students for their future careers, where they will present to users, clients, and local authorities.
They serve as a valuable deadline before your final submission to keep everyone on track. However, some schools of architecture may base your grade on the work shown and presented during an architecture crit.
Take the opportunity to see the work of other students in your year group or across the university.
Who is involved in an architecture crit?
Architecture presentations or crits are often considered open events. Some schools of architecture even advertise them on social media.
- Students
- Your tutor
- Invited guests, such as practising architects
- Course leaders
- Students from other years
- Academics from other departments
- Clients
Types of architecture crit
During the journey of an architectural design project, it is common for the type of presentation to change and increase in intensity towards the end of the project.
Desktop presentations / Table review
As the name suggests, these involve presenting your work laid out on a desk or table. They are typically less formal, with a conversational tone rather than a stand-up presentation. Written feedback is not usually provided.
Pin-ups
Pin-ups are informal presentations where you pin or tape your work on a wall, but the environment is more relaxed than a ‘formal’ review or critique. Informal written feedback may be provided. The term ‘interim crit’ is sometimes used halfway through a project.
Crits, Reviews, Juries
These happen near the end of the project but not too close to a deadline, allowing students time to produce further work based on the feedback. Formal feedback is usually given following the crit. An architecture crit near the end of a project is known as a final crit.
Cross-crits / Open Crits
Cross-crits or open crits, used at schools of architecture such as The Bartlett, provide an opportunity for tutors from other units or tutor groups to move around and give feedback on the work of students they do not usually teach.
Regardless of the name or format, architecture crits are an opportunity to showcase your design progress and receive constructive feedback from people who may not be familiar with your work.
Displaying your work
Printed presentations
Find out how much space you’ll have on the wall. This will help you plan the layout of your presentation boards or portfolio sheets.
If you run out of wall space, you can use the floor or hand out pages to the audience. Tracing paper should have a sheet of paper behind it so the lines can be read clearly. Don't forget to show physical models—find a table and display them well.
Display your pages neatly and in a logical order. Place the less important pages higher or lower, with the key page at eye level. Your work took days to produce, so make sure the pages are straight and any tape is hidden and stuck to the back of the page.
My favourite option is folding a piece of masking tape into a loop to make double-sided tape; this can then be easily removed from the wall and your work. An alternative is using pins, if the wall allows it.
Don’t print on the same day as the crit. Avoid pages smaller than A3, and ensure everything is printed to scale.
Digital presentations
If your university supports digital presentations, the same principles apply. Plan your portfolio pages in a way that visually supports what you’ll be saying.
We find digital presentations more challenging, as the audience can’t see all your work at once. Consider a hybrid presentation and print some key drawings.
You may wish to repeat some of the portfolio pages to help remind the audience of key details.
Check your connection to the TV or projector before you start.
How to prepare for an architecture crit
An architecture crit is different from your regular tutorials. In an architecture crit or review, you often present to people who are seeing your work for the first time, unlike your tutor, who has followed your progress.
1. Consolidate your design thoughts
The architecture crit is an excellent opportunity to consolidate the journey of your project. You’ve likely gone through a process of exploration, refinement, and maybe even a few dead ends. This is your chance to rationalise that journey and present the most relevant parts.
Don’t feel the need to explain every step if some aspects are no longer critical to your current design, but they might still be valuable to display on the wall. Focus on the work that best represents your progression. If a design approach failed, you can briefly address it and move on.
Be clear on your client, design approaches, and programme. This is an opportunity to present why your project matters.
2. Prepare your work
Don’t feel pressured to complete every piece of work for the jury. It’s more about showing your progress.
Try to format your work as portfolio pages that can later be used for your final submission. This will save you time later on, though they don’t need to be perfect at this stage. Missing text or labels is fine since you’ll explain the project verbally.
3. Practice your presentation
One of the most important tips is to practise what you will say. Hearing someone fumbling through their words or losing their train of thought during a crit can detract from the quality of the presentation, no matter how good the work is. Confidence is key.
Time yourself; you don’t want to be cut off for running over.
Even if you're not 100% certain about your design decisions, you can confidently present your uncertainties. It’s okay to express that you’re unsure about the next step if you do so in a way that invites constructive feedback.
Bullet points, not scripts
Write out your 10 key points.
Instead of writing a full script, create bullet points to guide your presentation. A script can sound flat and robotic if read word-for-word, whereas bullet points allow for a more natural flow. This way, you cover all the important points without being tied to specific wording.
4. What not to say
Avoid overly negative statements about your work. You can call an unfinished drawing a ‘work in progress’.
Don’t say:
- Because it was in the brief.
- Because my tutor told me to.
- Because it was easier than…
- Because I ran out of time.
You are the project lead, so you have the final say.
Credit to portico.space for these insights.
5. Engage your audience
Remember that architecture crits are not just about your work—they’re about how well you can communicate your ideas. Your audience, whether they are tutors, peers, or external reviewers, wants to be engaged. They are more likely to give helpful and constructive feedback if your presentation holds their attention.
Prepare some questions to ask the audience; this helps direct the feedback.
You can move around! Try pointing at the work you are describing, but avoid blocking it from view.
Add character to your presentation
Inject some personality and emotion into your delivery. A lively presentation can make a big difference in the atmosphere of the room, even if your work isn’t fully developed yet. While a good presentation can’t make up for weak content, it can elevate the discussion and lead to more helpful critiques.
Ask yourself:
- Is there something you can hand out?
- Can you reveal something, such as hidden layers in a drawing?
6. Recording & handling feedback
Ask another student to make notes on your behalf; taking your own notes can be difficult.
Some people suggest students should ‘defend’ their work. Yes, there are times when confidence in your proposals is valuable, but an architecture crit should not aim to be adversarial.
The panel reviewing your work may have varying levels of experience in giving feedback. Some might provide very constructive insights, while others may offer less useful comments. The key is to stay open-minded and take all feedback as it comes. You can decide if the feedback is valuable to you afterwards. It is okay to ignore some feedback.
Try, and we know this can be hard, not to take it personally.
7. Rest & relax
Remember, the purpose of a crit is to help you grow as a designer. Missing an architecture presentation due to nerves or lack of work is not worth it.
If you’re too tired, you will feel more nervous and become less receptive to feedback.
Are architecture crits valuable or toxic?
Architecture crits are typically considered an essential part of architectural education. They provide a chance to not only receive feedback but also to improve how you communicate your ideas to others. By preparing thoroughly, practising your presentation, and engaging your audience, you’ll be able to make the most of your crit, even if your work is still in progress.
Feedback should focus on the work, not the individual. However, it is normal for guests or tutors to point out if something is missing or if the project is falling behind expectations.
However, there are some toxic approaches to architecture crits led by unprofessional tutors. At Green Mat Workshop, we support professional, productive, and supportive architecture crits.
If, as a student, you experience abusive or disrespectful behaviour during architecture presentations, we suggest reporting this to your university or professional bodies such as RIBA, ARB or AIA.
Conclusion
Remember, the purpose of an architecture crit is to help you grow as a designer, so embrace the opportunity to refine your ideas and skills. With the right preparation and mindset, your crit can be a valuable step in your architectural journey.
Photography: R Stonehouse.
