With 2024 coming to an end, the 10 usability heuristics developed by Jakob Nielsen have reached their 30th anniversary. Jakob Nielsen’s 10 usability heuristics are not merely opinions; they are grounded in systematic research conducted via factor analysis. According to Jakob himself, the 10 heuristics are “as durable as if they had been engraved on a rune stone.”

These heuristics have stood the test of time, proving their relevance across decades of technological advancement. Whether you’re designing websites, apps, or any interactive digital system, these principles remain fundamental. Let’s dive into the 10 heuristics and their significance in modern design applications.

An Overview of Jakob’s 10 Usability Heuristics

Given below are the 10 usability heuristics defined by Nielsen. These principles are not specific guidelines. Rather, they are broad principles for usability that can serve as guidelines for improving usability in an interface. These principles are useful for anyone building digital products from websites and apps to software or physical interfaces like kiosks.

Who Should Learn About Jakob Nielsen’s Usability Heuristics?

If you are a UX designer, then knowing Nielsen’s usability heuristics is essential. But it’s not just UX designers that ought to have a foundational understanding of how usability works. When the user interface of your product is not user-friendly, meeting business goals is not possible. Therefore, getting a basic understanding of Nielsen’s usability heuristics can improve the productivity of your business if you work in one of the following roles:

• Product Manager
• Software Developer
• Marketing Professional
• Graphic Designer
• Content Creator

Designers, developers, product managers, and anyone building digital experiences can benefit from understanding these principles. Although Nielsen’s usability heuristics aren’t strictly a QA tester’s checklist, they offer a solid foundation for identifying usability flaws before a product launch. In addition, researchers and academics who work in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI) also rely on heuristics to teach foundational principles of usability.

So what exactly are these usability heuristics and how are they applied in real-world applications? Let’s dive deep into each of the heuristics to get a clear understanding of how they can be applied effectively.

Visibility of System Status

A good system should always keep users informed about what’s happening and provide relevant feedback for their actions. This feedback should be given in a timely manner too.

For example, when a user completes an action like clicking a button, you might think there’s nothing more to consider. After all, it’s a simple button click. However, for a system to be user-friendly, users need to be guided on what’s happening as they click the button.

Say you clicked a button to upload a file and the system doesn’t provide any form of feedback. It’s typical for first time users of digital media as well as tech-fluent users to feel lost and confused.

“Did I hit the button, or should I do it again? Has something gone wrong?”

As a user processes many thoughts such as the ones above, he or she might just decide to leave the frustrating interface for a better one.

Match Between System + Real World

The system should speak to users in a language that is familiar to them. Using familiar concepts and conventions is important since no user is interested in struggling to understand a user interface.

For example, universally understood symbols like a trash can for ‘delete’ or a magnifying glass for ‘search’ can be applied. Don’t use technical jargon such as ‘Error 404’ that a normal user cannot understand. Instead, you can replace such a term with a phrase like “We couldn’t find the page you’re looking for.”

In the example above, the user interface on the left uses the term ‘Transmit’ instead of the more familiar ‘Send’ for the button. Although users know the meaning of this term, it is not the universally applied term for sending an email. Therefore, users may find themselves struggling for a few seconds. Since user-friendly interfaces are offered by competitors, users will not hesitate to avoid using your product based on inconveniences such as the one illustrated in this example.

User Control & Freedom

This heuristic is crucial for ensuring a user-friendly experience. Users naturally make errors when interacting with a system, and even without mistakes, they may change their minds and want to undo an action. It’s essential to give users the freedom to revise decisions during their journey. This heuristic highlights the importance of providing an “emergency exit” that allows users to escape an unwanted situation easily and without frustration.

To your business, the user interface may be a tool designed to achieve specific results. However, from the user’s perspective, it is a point of interaction where a non-living entity represents your brand. Therefore, humanising your interface to align with human behaviour and thought is essential.