10 Usability Heuristics
The 10 Usability Heuristics are rules of thumb for user interface design, by Jakob Nielsen.
Visibility of system status Give feedback to user about what’s going on. Examples: loading icon, “you are here” pin on a map, …
Match between system and the real world Design should be the same language as the user. Be careful with differences between context, cultures, backgrounds, etc. See: Affordance. Examples: thumb-up button to like content, door knob design to push or pull, …
User control and freedom User makes mistakes and should be able to correct them. Examples: redo an action, exit a page, …
Consistency and standards Follow established codes and conventions. Example: three bars icon for a menu, underline links, …
Error prevention Avoid error-prone situations, check them, help user fix them. Examples: annotate required fields in forms, warning lights in car, …
- Slip: unconscious errors caused by inattention.
- Mistakes: conscious errors based on a mismatch between user and interface.
Recognition rather than recall Minimize user’s memory load.
Examples: label on form’s fields, progress bars, …Flexibility and efficiency of use Help expert users with shortcuts, but avoid overwhelming newcomers. Examples: keyboard shortcuts, gesture on touchscreens, …
Aesthetic and minimalist design Avoid irrelevant information, favor element that prioritize user’s goal
Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors Error message should be clear, indicate the problem, and suggest solutions.
Help and documentation It’s best when a system doesn’t need extra information, but it’s sometime necessary to provide additional documentation to help users.
References
- 10 Usability Heuristics for UI – Design Principles
- 10 Usability Heuristics applied to video games – NNGroup