Heuristic Evaluation

Heuristic evaluation is a usability inspection method in which experts systematically review a system or prototype against a set of usability principles. It is typically applied in the Deliver Phase to quickly and cost-effectively identify design flaws before user testing.

Application Example​

In a study designing More Stamina, a gamified mobile health app to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) manage fatigue, researchers applied heuristic evaluation as part of the user-centred design process. After creating a prototype guided by behavioural change models, a group of usability experts systematically inspected the interface using Nielsen’s heuristics. Each expert reviewed the app’s task flows and interface elements—such as navigation, feedback, error prevention, and consistency—against the established principles. Observations were documented, discussed, and synthesised to generate a list of usability issues.

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The evaluation process was carried out before involving end users, offering a low-cost and rapid inspection method that provided actionable feedback for prototype refinement and informed the next iteration of the design. (Giunti et al., 2018)