Some people don't enjoy working in pseudo-positive and falsely encouraging environments that give second-rate work an undeserved pass. There's something motivating about standards and demands.
I'm not sure I understand: are employers supposed to be positive and not critical when hiring people?
It's a designer showing her work to a potential employer. I made a comment that her work is not yet good enough, there are certainly areas which she can improve.
As for your ad hominem: I'm not actually a negative person.
The critique might have been harsh, but it was also constructive. It's not like he came out and called her work crap. He gave useful feedback on the design.
He prefaces it by saying that there is no offence intended. Even if it may come across as negative, it's clearly in the best interest based on the preface.
