The 10 Heuristics for Designing a User-Friendly and Intuitive UI

Heuristics are a set of principles or guidelines that designers use to create a good user experience when designing a product or interface. They are based on the designer’s experience and knowledge of what has worked well in the past, and are used to help ensure that the product is user-friendly and effective.

Heuristics are not strict rules, but rather a way of thinking about how to design a product that will be enjoyable and easy to use for the user.

In this article, we’ll be discussing the heuristic principles for user interface design and providing examples of how they can be applied in practice. These principles are a set of guidelines for designing user interfaces that are intuitive and easy to use, and they are based on the needs and expectations of the user.

Origin Story

The heuristic evaluation method for user interface design was first proposed by Jacob Nielsen and Rolf Molich in 1990, and consists of 10 principles for evaluating the usability of a user interface. These principles, known as the “10 heuristics for user interface design,” are widely accepted as guidelines for designing effective and user-friendly interfaces and are often used by designers and usability professionals.

Principles

1. Visibility of system status

This principle means that the system should keep the user informed about what is happening at all times.

For example, if a user is filling out a form online and clicks the “submit” button, the system should provide some kind of feedback to let the user know that the form has been successfully submitted. This could be as simple as displaying a confirmation message or a spinning loading icon while the form is being processed.

2. Match between system and the real world

This principle means that the system should use language and concepts that are familiar to the user, rather than technical or system-specific terms.

For example, if a user is purchasing a product online, the system should use terms like “shopping cart” and “checkout” rather than more technical terms like “order basket” or “payment processing.”

3. User control and freedom

This principle means that the system should allow users to easily undo actions or cancel processes if they make a mistake.

For example, if a user accidentally clicks on the wrong item in an online shopping cart, the system should allow them to easily remove the item or cancel the purchase.

4. Consistency and standards

This principle means that the system should use consistent language and layout throughout the user interface, so that users don’t have to constantly adjust to new conventions.

For example, if a system uses the term “settings” to refer to the user’s preferences in one part of the interface, it should use the same term everywhere else.

5. Error prevention

This principle means that the system should be designed in a way that minimises the chances of users making mistakes.

For example, if a user is required to enter their password in a login form, the system could include a “show password” toggle to allow the user to see if they are entering the correct password, rather than having to remember it from memory.

6. Recognition rather than recall

The system should present information and options in a way that is easy for users to understand and access, rather than relying on their memory.

For example, a navigation menu should always be visible, rather than hidden behind a hamburger icon that the user has to remember to click.

7. Flexibility and efficiency of use

The system should allow experienced users to perform tasks more efficiently, such as through the use of keyboard shortcuts or personalised settings. At the same time, it should not be confusing or overwhelming for new users.

8. Aesthetic and minimalist design

The user interface should be visually appealing and uncluttered, with only the necessary information and options presented. Extra or unnecessary information can distract from the important content and make the interface harder to use.

For example, a form should only ask for the necessary information, rather than including unnecessary fields or unrelated information.

9. Help users recognise, diagnose, and recover from errors

When an error does occur, the system should provide clear and helpful error messages that explain the problem and suggest a solution. The messages should be written in plain language, rather than using technical terms or codes.

For example, if a user enters an invalid email address, the system might display a message saying “Please enter a valid email address.”

10. Help and documentation

If documentation or help is necessary, it should be easy to find and focused on the user’s tasks. It should provide concrete steps for completing a task, rather than being too general or lengthy.

For example, a help section might include a step-by-step guide for setting up a new account, with clear instructions and screenshots.

Where to use all these principles?

The heuristic evaluation method and the 10 heuristics for user interface design can be used at various stages in the design process of a product or application. Some possible times to use the heuristics principles include:

1. During the design phase

The heuristics can be used to guide the design of the user interface, ensuring that it is intuitive and user-friendly from the outset.

2. During usability testing

The heuristics can be used as a checklist or set of guidelines to evaluate the usability of a user interface during usability testing.

3. During user research

The heuristics can be used to identify areas of the user interface that may be confusing or difficult for users, based on observations of user behaviour or feedback from user interviews.

4. After the product has been released

The heuristics can be used to identify and address any usability issues that arise after the product has been released, in order to improve the user experience.

Overall, the heuristics can be useful at any stage of the product development process where usability and user experience are a concern. They can help ensure that the user interface is intuitive, user-friendly, and easy to use for the intended audience.

💝…And it’s a Wrap

Thanks for taking the time out and reaching the very end of this article. If you have any feedback to give, please leave a comment and I will surely look into it.

Before you go!

👏 Click 50 if you like it.
🙂 Click follow on Shrey Trivedi
📸 Find me on Linkedin

Feel free to get in touch with me at: 📭 shreyntrivedi@gmail.com