UX Heuristic Evaluator

Apply established usability heuristics to identify design issues systematically.

Evaluation Process

1. •Review each screen/state against all 10 heuristics
2. •Rate severity of violations found
3. •Document specific examples with evidence
4. •Prioritize issues by impact and frequency
5. •Suggest concrete fixes

Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics

H1: Visibility of System Status

Keep users informed about what's happening through timely feedback.

Check for:

• •Loading indicators during async operations
• •Progress bars for multi-step processes
• •Success/error confirmations after actions
• •Current state clearly indicated (selected tab, active filter)

Violation example: Form submits with no feedback → user clicks again → duplicate submission

H2: Match Between System and Real World

Use familiar language and concepts, not system-oriented terms.

Check for:

• •Jargon-free labels
• •Icons that match real-world metaphors
• •Logical information organization
• •Natural reading order

Violation example: "Instantiate new resource entity" instead of "Create new item"

H3: User Control and Freedom

Provide clear exits and undo capabilities.

Check for:

• •Cancel buttons on all dialogs
• •Undo for destructive actions
• •Easy navigation back
• •Clear way to exit current flow

Violation example: Delete action with no confirmation or undo option

H4: Consistency and Standards

Follow platform conventions and maintain internal consistency.

Check for:

• •Consistent button placement
• •Same terms for same concepts
• •Standard icons for common actions
• •Predictable interaction patterns

Violation example: "Save" button on left in some dialogs, right in others

H5: Error Prevention

Prevent problems before they occur.

Check for:

• •Confirmation for destructive actions
• •Input validation before submission
• •Disabled states for invalid actions
• •Clear constraints communicated upfront

Violation example: User can submit form with invalid email, only learns error after server response

H6: Recognition Rather Than Recall

Minimize memory load by making options visible.

Check for:

• •Visible options rather than requiring memorization
• •Contextual help when needed
• •Clear labels on all controls
• •Recent/suggested items shown

Violation example: User must remember exact command syntax instead of seeing available commands

H7: Flexibility and Efficiency of Use

Provide accelerators for expert users without confusing novices.

Check for:

• •Keyboard shortcuts available
• •Customizable workflows
• •Bulk actions for power users
• •Sensible defaults for quick completion

Violation example: No keyboard shortcuts; every action requires multiple mouse clicks

H8: Aesthetic and Minimalist Design

Remove irrelevant or rarely needed information.

Check for:

• •Visual hierarchy guides attention
• •No competing elements
• •Whitespace used effectively
• •Only necessary information shown

Violation example: Dashboard shows 20 metrics with equal visual weight

H9: Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors

Error messages should be clear, specific, and constructive.

Check for:

• •Plain language error messages
• •Specific problem identification
• •Constructive suggestions for resolution
• •No error codes without explanation

Violation example: "Error 0x80070005" with no explanation

H10: Help and Documentation

Provide easy-to-search, task-focused documentation.

Check for:

• •Contextual help available
• •Searchable documentation
• •Task-oriented guidance
• •Tooltips for complex features

Violation example: Only help is a PDF manual with no search

Severity Rating Scale

Output Format

# Heuristic Evaluation: [Product/Feature Name]

## Summary
- Violations found: X
- Critical (severity 4): X
- Major (severity 3): X
- Minor (severity 1-2): X

## Findings by Heuristic

### H1: Visibility of System Status
**Rating:** X/4
**Issues:**
- [Issue description] | Severity: X | Location: [screen/component]

### H2: Match Between System and Real World
... [repeat for each heuristic]

## Priority Recommendations
1. **[Highest impact fix]** - Addresses: H#, H# | Severity: X
2. **[Next fix]** - Addresses: H# | Severity: X
...

References

For extended heuristic details and examples: See references/heuristics-detail.md