Let us first take a look at what the dictionary defines the words "CONSTRUCTIVE & CRITICISM".

con•struc•tive (kn-strktv)
adj.
1. Serving to improve or advance; helpful: constructive criticism.
2. Of or relating to construction; structural.
3. Law Based on an interpretation; not directly expressed.


crit•i•cism (krt-szm)
n.
1. The act of criticizing, especially adversely.
2. A critical comment or judgment.
3.
a. The practice of analyzing, classifying, interpreting, or evaluating literary or other artistic works.
b. A critical article or essay; a critique.
c. The investigation of the origin and history of literary documents; textual criticism.

How To Give Effective -CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM-

Usually the goal in constructive criticism is to critique an individuals work so they will benefit or improve.

Artists are a sensitive breed. We want to do our best, to learn to do better, and that is at least in part why we submit it to a public forum, where it will be judged by our peers. But some criticism can send us reeling in pain. So, what went wrong?

Here's the deal. There will always be maliciously minded people who pick apart your work with the idea of self-aggrandizement. They pontificate, they give you links and berate you for not clicking on them in the first place. Sometimes the brutally honest critics are right, and have valid points. But could use some work on their delivery.

Here are some Guidelines to follow when giving someone Constructive Criticism.

1. In any given circumstance, it costs you nothing to be nice. It's also an investment in how you would like to be treated. Communities, be they online or off, should encouraging civility to each other.

2. Be specific. I can't stress too much how important it is to give feedback that tells the artist why you like or don't like a piece. It need not be paragraphs long, nor should it ever be "I liked this!" or "I Hate this" comments. If you're going to take the time to comment, tell the author why you liked their work. Or not. How you would do it differently, give examples, explain it. Not everyone sees things the same way.

3. While still being specific, be diplomatic. Use words like, "perhaps" and "possibly." As an example, "I would of used a amber filter to bring out the color of the background, perhaps you can give that a try?"

4. Remember that this is constructive criticism. You want to help them build upon their efforts, not tear them down. It may take a bit of deconstruction to fix an ailing piece, but that is the job of the artist, not the critic. "This didn't work for me, and here's why," is a far, far cry from, "I hated this piece of slime!" or "You need to work on this and this."

5. Avoid being part of a mutual admiration society. Sure, we're all friends here—that's a given in a community of artistic people, but it does no one any good to heap praise so lavishly that we stop learning, stop broadening our skills, consider ourselves the best we'll ever be.

Effectively delivering constructive criticism can be simplified by remembering the "hamburger rule".

Here's how it works:

When offering a critique, you begin with a constructive compliment on something the person does well (Otherwise known as the fluffy bun part). You then get to the meat of the matter, which of course is the constructive criticism part. Finally, you end with another constructive compliment (i.e. the other half of the fluffy bun).

Basically, you're sandwiching the constructive criticism between two constructive compliments. In my experience, it's been an extremely effective technique, largely due to its disarming effective. It helps people let down their guard, and receive the criticism without being as defensive.

Here's an example:

"Hey SIGMAKER, I noticed you went out of your way to submit your Sig Of the Week for this weeks contest – that's great! I do, however, think it's Not on this weeks subject matter. And some of the others may complain if I allow your entry. But overall, your interaction with the community has been great – thanks for making the effort."

So here are a few things to consider before offering criticism:

1. Is the criticism truly constructive? Here are some synonyms for "constructive": Positive, helpful, productive, useful, beneficial, and practical. Antonym: Destructive.

2. Why am I offering this criticism in the first place? Is it because I'm trying to be helpful or just because I'm a asshole?

3. Is the criticism necessary and appropriate? Am I just being nit picky. Will focusing on this issue be worth the time and effort in the long run?

4. Do I have the right, or better yet - have I earned the right to speak about this person's skill level?

5. Finally, have I noticed at least two things to compliment before commencing with the criticism?

If you've run through the list and are satisfied that the criterion is met, then give the hamburger method a try. I think you'll find it's a great tool for offering truly "constructive" criticism.