Cascade Waddell, Product Operations Analyst at Imperial shares 10 Usability Heuristics developed by Jakob Nielsen and Rolf Molich:
As a Product Operations Analyst with a UX design background, I regularly assess digital products against usability standards. To guide this assessment I rely on the 10 Usability Heuristics to identify usability issues and opportunities for improvement of producst at Imperial. These 10 steps can also be used in all parts of the product lifecycle.
Here are the 10 Heuristics made simple:
1. Visibility of system status
The user should always be aware of their current position in the system. This could be a confirmation message with a tick after completing an application or an order. It could also be a progress bar at the top of the screen.
2. Recognition rather than recall
The system should help the user to recall previously entered or commonly selected information. For example, a form field that suggests recent entries, so the user doesn’t have to remember or retype data.
3. Help users recognise errors
Errors should use clear, plain language with instructions so that a user can understand it. For example: 404 · Page not found – Return to the homepage
4. Flexibility and efficiency of use
The system should adapt to the user’s preferences so that they don’t spend time recalibrating the system. For example: the system allows the user to hide widgets.
5. Aesthetic and minimalist design
Interfaces shouldn’t overwhelm the user with unnecessary information so that the user can focus on the primary task. For example: using a task centric layout.
6. Help and documentation
Help content should be easy for the user to access and should be written clearly. Ideally, it sits at the top of the screen or in a visible and predictable place.
7. User control and freedom
The user should be able to undo actions, navigate back, save progress, and resume tasks when needed. For example, there is a back button to go back and change previously entered information.
8. Error prevention
The system should prevent mistakes, such as blocking invalid inputs or give the user validation feedback. For example, showing an error if an email address is incorrectly entered.
9. Consistency and standards
Pages should look and behave consistently so the user doesn’t need to relearn the interface on every screen.
10. Match between the system and the real world
The system should use familiar language, icons, and concepts that reflect real-world experiences. For example, using a shopping basket icon to represent online orders helps users immediately understand what actions they have taken within the system. This alignment reduces confusion and makes the interface more intuitive.
In conclusion
Using this framework consistently has helped ground assessments in defined heuristics rather than gut instinct. If you’re looking for a strong starting point to evaluate an app or website, this framework is for you.
Comment down below if you’ve used this framework or any others to assess the usability of a website.
Additional Reading
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2
Heuristic Evaluations: How to Conduct – NN/G