If you’re a designer or a developer and you've never heard of a usability testing tool called a Heuristic Evaluation, you’re not alone. It’s not a widespread technique, and it’s certainly not something that’s discussed out of design circles. I think it should be though, and I want to make it easy for you to try it out.
A heuristic evaluation is a lightweight evaluation that allows you to identify usability issues without the involvement of users.
To conduct a Heuristic Evaluation, all you need is yourself, your website design, and two teammates who can act as independent evaluators. The three of you should walk through the website separately of user testing, and identify usability issues along the way. You do so with the help of ten heuristics developed by Jacob Nielsen (see end of article), that you should keep at your side throughout the evaluation. As you find issues, take notes, and compare notes with your teammates at the end.
It’s really that simple. And the simplicity is what makes it so valuable. Sure, there is no replacement for testing with real users, but that can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. Heuristic Evaluations provide you with a structured form of getting that quick feedback you need when money and time are precious. Rather than providing random opinions left and right, Nielsen’s ten heuristics provide a common language for you and your teammates to discuss usability issues.
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