B · EvaluateIntermediate50 min read
4. Usability heuristics in practice
UI/UX Foundations · 52 pages source format
Nielsen’s 10 heuristics are a structured critique lens. Score flows, prioritize fixes, avoid “redesign everything” paralysis.
What you'll learn
- 10 heuristics (practical subset)
- Severity rating
- Heuristic walkthrough
Heuristic pass
Focus on: visibility of status, match to real world, user control, consistency, error prevention.
- Visibility of system status
- Match between system and real world
- User control and freedom
- Consistency and standards
- Error prevention
Do this now
Rate your app’s happy path 1–5 on 5 heuristics. Document one violation each.
Clear?
Severity 0–4
0 cosmetic → 4 catastrophic. Fix 3–4 before 1–2.
Do this now
Assign severity to each violation. Pick top 2 to fix this week.
Clear?
Quick fix sketch
Low-fi before hi-fi. Paper or FigJam.
Do this now
Sketch fix for highest-severity issue.
Clear?