Understanding design goals

Method 1: Cognitive walkthrough

What

A cognitive walkthrough is a usability review where someone completes tasks step by step while you observe them and they explain their thinking out loud.

Why

Cognitive walkthroughs are a way to get quick and early feedback on whether a design solution is easy for a new or infrequent user to learn. It can also help you understand why it is or isn't easy. This research approach is useful for catching big issues at any stage in the design process.

How to do it

1. You can run tests with real users. You can use or with team members acting as users, but the feedback you get will be less valid.
2. If you are using a member of the design team acting as a user:

• Identify specific traits for new or infrequent users of a design solution.
• The team member will use the traits you've identified to participate.

1. Develop a set of representative tasks that emphasize new use or infrequent use.
2. Ask the tester to meet their goal using a printed or interactive design. As they go, ask what they would attempt to do next or how they would learn what they should do next.
3. Do not lead the user through the task. Encourage them to stay focused on what they are trying to accomplish.
4. Pay attention to: 

• The user's expected outcomes
• How quickly and easily they are able to complete the task
• If they understand what they need to do to complete the task
• If they are getting meaningful feedback when they have completed the task

1. Analyze the walkthrough results to highlight where the user struggled and what needs improvement.

Time required

20 minutes to one hour per tester

Method 2: Heuristic evaluation

What

A heuristic evaluation is a quick way to find common, large usability problems on a website.

Why

This approach helps to quickly identify common design problems that make websites hard to use without needing more in-depth user research.

How to do it

1. Recruit a group of three to five people familiar with common usability best practices. These people are usually user experience specialists.
2. Identify a list of heuristics or general usability best practices. Examples of heuristics include:

• The website should keep users informed about what is going on and the success or failure of their interactions.
• The system should use plain language, with words and concepts familiar to users, not technical or internal terms.

1. The heuristics might also include whether the site protects against possible harms.
2. Ask each person to:

• Evaluate the website against the list
• Write down possible problems

1. After individual evaluations, gather the design to discuss what users found and prioritize potential problems.

Time required

1 to 2 hours

Method 3: Interface audits

What

An interface audit lists and analyzes all the components, design patterns, and interface features of an existing website.

Why

Interface audits help identify what needs revision in new versions of a website to create consistency and fill gaps. This could be:

• Components
• Typography
• Color
• Iconography
• Graphics

Interface audits can also help you establish and document a design system for a website.

How to do it

An individual or group can conduct an interface audit using the following steps.

1. Identify the website and take screenshots of all the pages you want to audit.
2. Create a checklist of the things you want to audit on each page. This could be header and body styles, or use of color, buttons, and icons.
3. For each page, take notes on each aspect on your checklist.
4. Once you audit all pages, compare notes and identify inconsistencies. For example, note if headers are inconsistently formatted.
5. Decide how to resolve any inconsistencies by choosing an existing approach and designing potential new solutions.
6. Work with your developers to determine the feasibility of the potential new solutions.

Time required

2 to 5 days, depending on the size and scope of the audit