18F
18F - Heuristic Evaluation
Heuristic Evaluation finds usability issues fast. Experts review an interface against usability principles. Teams use Nielsen's heuristics or custom criteria. This reveals friction points without user testing. In 2 hours, evaluators work alone, then compare notes. Expect a prioritized list of problems. Rate each by severity and impact. Great for finding inconsistent navigation and accessibility barriers. Recommendations balance effort and user impact. Plan quick wins and bigger fixes.
Duration
2 hours
Group Size
3-5
Category
18F
Difficulty
Easy
Quickly spot design flaws that hurt usability. Avoid lengthy user research.
Heuristic evaluation findings. Expert-identified usability issues. Prioritized improvements.
For best results, ensure evaluators understand the heuristics. It's common to miss issues in the first pass, so encourage thoroughness. I have found that Severity ratings can be subjective, so allow time for discussion and clarification. Additional Resources:
- "10 usability heuristics for user interface design — Nielsen Norman Group"
- "USDA Digital Strategy tools — Research — Heuristic review template"
- "18F accessibility checklist"
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