Heuristics: "rules of thumb" (best practice) for design
Heuristic analysis:
Is: a review of a product against a set of rules (heuristics) for usable design
Used to: evaluate the usability on an existing design. Not a replacement for a true user research. Provides general understanding and helps to identify potential design issues.
Applied to: existing, redesign, competitor
Conducted by: experts
Also called: heuristic evaluation, expert review
Heuristic analysis report includes:
heuristics violated (problem area),
descriptions,
impact/importance ratings,
recommendations (for improvement)
Heuristic analysis process:
Background check on the product
Choose heuristics, e.g. Nielsen's (see his book "Usability Engineering")
Conduct analysis on prioritized sections of the design
Share results with your team and primary stakeholders
Notes
*Stakeholder: anyone who has a significant interest in an enterprise. For example:
Your bosses (Specialists in UXD, ID, HCI, psychology; Investors; Project Leaders)
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