In this episode of Design Office Hours, I dive deep into a question I hear often—especially from hiring managers, educators, and design leads:

How do you assess if a designer can apply critical thinking on a project?

We talk a lot about "thinking like a designer," but what does that really look like in practice? In this episode, I break it down into clear, observable traits—and how to spot them.

We cover:

• Why critical thinking shows up more in process than in outcomes

• How to frame vague problems and ask the right questions

• What design decisions say about a person's reasoning

• How adaptability reveals a mature creative mind

• The importance of collaboration, and how to balance feedback with your POV

• Why portfolios miss the mark—and how to fix that

If you're reviewing portfolios, preparing for interviews, or just trying to grow your own design instincts, this episode gives you a practical lens to recognize (and cultivate) deeper thinking in creative work.

🎧 Listen now, and let me know: where do you apply critical thinking best—and where are you still working on it?

Got a question or a topic for a future episode? Email: [email protected] Follow: IG @designofficehours Follow: YouTube @DesignOfficeHours Submit: peterboeckel.com/designofficehours