Heuristic Evaluation

Heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method used to identify potential usability issues and areas for improvement in a user interface (UI) design. Developed by usability experts Jakob Nielsen and Rolf Molich in the early 1990s, heuristic evaluation involves a small group of evaluators who examine the interface against a set of established usability principles known as heuristics. The goal is to uncover potential problems impacting the user experience, so they can be addressed before the product is released.

Heuristic evaluation is typically conducted by usability experts or individuals with knowledge of user interface design principles. It is a cost-effective method that can be performed relatively quickly, making it a popular choice for initial evaluations of interface designs.

The most commonly used set of heuristics for evaluating user interfaces is Nielsen's ten usability heuristics, which include:

1. Visibility of system status: Users should be informed about what is happening through feedback and clear communication.
2. Match between the system and the real world: The system should use familiar concepts, language, and conventions that are understandable to users.
3. User control and freedom: Users should be flexible to undo and redo actions or navigate the system without feeling trapped.
4. Consistency and standards: The interface should follow established conventions and remain consistent throughout the system to avoid confusion.
5. Error prevention: The system should be designed to minimize the chance of errors occurring and provide clear guidance when errors do occur.
6. Recognition rather than recall: The interface should minimize the user's memory load by making options, actions, and objects visible and easily accessible.
7. Flexibility and efficiency of use: The design should cater to novice and experienced users, allowing them to complete tasks efficiently.
8. Aesthetic and minimalist design: The interface should be visually appealing and uncluttered, with only the necessary information displayed.
9. Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors: Error messages should be clear, and concise, and provide guidance on how to resolve the problem.
10. Help and documentation: The system should provide easily accessible help and documentation for users who need assistance.

During a heuristic evaluation, evaluators independently review the user interface and assess its compliance with these heuristics. They identify usability issues and rank them based on severity, which can help prioritize improvements. The results of individual evaluations are then combined, and a final report is generated to guide the design team in making improvements.

In summary, heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method used to identify potential usability issues in a user interface design by examining it against a set of established usability principles or heuristics. It is a cost-effective and efficient method for evaluating user interfaces and can help guide design improvements to enhance the overall user experience.

See Also

• IT Strategy (Information Technology Strategy)
• IT Governance
• Enterprise Architecture
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• IT Sourcing (Information Technology Sourcing)
• IT Operations (Information Technology Operations)
• E-Strategy