As much as we want to only receive critiques on our work at the right time and in a way that is straightforward and helpful, a lot of time that isn't what happens. You may be get feedback when you are not asking for it. Feedback could come from anywhere — from your audience maybe via a support channel, or maybe someone is simply being mean on twitter or reddit. If its a client project, it could be from your client, where he or she may be suggesting things that they want or think they want.

Often when a critique is coming from these places or people where its not your trusted circle or people that have a design sense, what they say could be

A) A little bit confusing
B ) Be a bad suggestion on the surface
C ) Mean spirited

This is because they are trying to find a solution to fix some problem or something that they don't like in the design, yet they don't have A designer's eye, may not necessarily be good at finding the solution, and thus their suggestions can be or appear to be way off. In addition, their emotional state may be one of frustration. And it could feel like an attack.

Your job as the designer, is to be able to do your best not to react. Which can be very difficult to do. A knee jerk response is to either externally or internally get frustrated or shut down. You may lash back or simply pretend you don't hear their unwanted feedback.

This knee jerk response is not in your or your designs best interest. Having that reaction internally is of course okay. Its human. Its how you handle it from there. Get yourself as quickly as possible into a place of feeling open and can listen to what they are saying.

If their feedback does feel misguided or feels like a terrible suggestion, see past what they are "actually saying" on the surface, and get beneath their suggestion.

You want to get to the design problem they are feeling and experiencing. They just don't know how to express it how a designer could. More times than not they are expressing a valid concern or flaw in the design. By trying to understand what problems that they are shining a light on, can lead to improvements for the customer and get to a design that you actually might like more.

A few examples...

Someone might be reacting negatively to something and say "This design is not as good as the old one. It was much better before." Of course, this doesn't feel good. Your intention would be to design something that is easy to use and better than any previous iteration. It might make you feel like you didn't do a good job and that you didn't try.

You want to see past their words and understand the issue they are having. Through your designer's eye revisit your work and ask questions:

Is it not readable? Are these colors not working well together? Is there not enough interest? Am I not addressing the primary purpose of this interface?

If you are able to have a dialog with the person (especially if its a team member or client), you should try to get to the bottom of what they are saying. Ask them what they liked so much about the previous design. Perhaps this will give clues to what you can adjust in your design. Ultimately the hope is you will come with something that is indeed better than the previous design.

Another example...

Maybe a client comes to you and they say "this is too dull" and "this is very boring". These words could come across as harsh. Obviously when you are designing something you don't want to create something dull or boring. Their words might frustrate or offend. Maybe your perspective is that its very "light" and "open" and "clean" as that's what you were going for.

But, see past what they are saying on the surface. Again ask yourself questions. "How could this be more interesting?" "Is the interface not enticing enough?"

Perhaps the design as a whole is working well, and they don't realize that, but what they crave is little bit more color, a photo an illustration.. Something thats a little bit more exiting, and that will entice.

Of course it would be great if in the previous example they had came along and said "All these things are working really well, its coming along, and I really like a lot things, but if you are able to bring a little more interest, maybe by color Or an image, not exactly sure but something to draw the user in a little bit."

That would be much easier to receive, but people aren't always going to say things in a way thats easy to receive. Your job is to translate so it is.

See through a critiques surface.That way, no matter what, you are finding ways to make your designs better.