UX Heuristics Framework

Practical usability principles for evaluating and improving user interfaces. Based on a fundamental truth: users don't read, they scan.

Core Principle

"Don't Make Me Think" - Every page should be self-evident. If something requires thinking, it's a usability problem.

The foundation: Users have limited patience and cognitive bandwidth. The best interfaces are invisible -- they let users accomplish goals without ever stopping to wonder "What do I click?" or "Where am I?" Every question mark that pops into a user's head adds to cognitive load and increases the chance they'll leave. Design for scanning, satisficing, and muddling through -- because that's what users actually do.

Scoring

Goal: 10/10. When reviewing or creating user interfaces, rate them 0-10 based on adherence to the principles below. A 10/10 means full alignment with all guidelines; lower scores indicate gaps to address. Always provide the current score and specific improvements needed to reach 10/10.

Krug's Three Laws of Usability

1. Don't Make Me Think

Core concept: Every question mark that pops into a user's head adds to their cognitive load and distracts from the task.

Why it works: Users are on a mission. They don't want to puzzle over labels, wonder what a link does, or decode clever marketing language. The less thinking required, the more likely they complete the task.

Key insights:

• Clever names lose to clear names every time
• Marketing-speak creates friction; plain language removes it
• Unfamiliar categories and labels force users to stop and interpret
• Links that could go anywhere create uncertainty
• Buttons with ambiguous labels cause hesitation

Product applications:

Copy patterns:

• Self-evident labels: "Sign in", "Search", "Add to cart"
• Action-oriented buttons: verb + noun ("Create account", "Download report")