Early in my teaching career, I noticed something frustrating.

Whenever I asked students for feedback on a design, they’d say things like:

❌ “It looks nice.”

❌ “I don’t like it.”

❌ “Something feels off.”

No deeper reasoning. No clear insights.

That’s when I introduced a 3-2-1 reflection system in my classes:

📌 3 things you learned

📌 2 things that stood out

📌 1 question or action you want to take

It forced them to slow down, reflect, and think critically.

And it worked—suddenly, their responses became sharper, more thoughtful, more intentional.

But critical thinking isn’t just important in classrooms. It’s the foundation of great UX design.

Why “Why?” Matters

Too many designers stop at surface-level thinking.

They say:

❌ “This design is bad.”

❌ “The user didn’t like it.”

❌ “The button should be bigger.”

But they don’t ask why.

One of the best frameworks I’ve used? Toyota’s 5 Whys technique.

Example:

🚗 The user isn’t converting. → Why?

🛒 The checkout flow is too long. → Why?

📋 There are too many required fields. → Why?

✍️ Legal requires it. → Why?

⚖️ No one challenged the assumption that all fields were necessary.

Now we have something to fix.

Designers who ask better questions create better solutions.

So the next time you’re critiquing a design, don’t stop at what feels off.

Dig deeper. Ask why. Then ask why again.

Because the best designers aren’t the ones with the fastest answers.

They’re the ones who know how to ask the right questions.

What’s one “why” question you’ve been thinking about lately? Hit reply and let me know.