If you’ve ever rage-quit an app because it’s confusing or a website because it looks like it was designed in 1995, you’re not alone. It’s not you—it’s bad UX (User Experience). Luckily, there’s a set of rules that help make things less annoying and more user-friendly. Enter Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics, a fancy term for making sure your online experience doesn’t suck. Let’s break it down:
1. Visibility of System Status: Keep Us in the Loop
We all hate being left on read, right? It’s the same with apps. When you click something, you want instant feedback. Loading bars, progress indicators—these little hints keep us from losing it when things take more than a second.
Translation: Don’t ghost your users; let them know what’s happening.
2. Match Between System and Real World: Talk Like a Human
We don’t need your app throwing random tech jargon at us. Use words and concepts that make sense in the real world. Your audience isn’t full of robots (yet).
Translation: Speak human, not robot.
3. User Control and Freedom: Oops? Fix it!
Ever clicked on the wrong thing and felt trapped? This principle is all about giving users a way out. Whether it’s an undo button or a simple “back” option, we need an escape route.
Translation: Let us hit undo when we mess up.
4. Consistency and Standards: Keep It Familiar
Switching between apps shouldn’t feel like learning a new language. Things should work the same across different platforms, buttons should do what we expect them to do, and the design should feel familiar.
Translation: Don’t reinvent the wheel, just make it roll smoother.
5. Error Prevention: Save Us from Ourselves
Instead of letting us make mistakes and then saying “Oops,” how about preventing errors from happening in the first place? Be smart—catch errors before they become a thing.
Translation: Stop us from making dumb mistakes.
6. Recognition Over Recall: Don’t Make Us Remember Stuff
We don’t want to memorize steps or search for hidden options. Keep important actions and info visible so we can just recognize what to do instead of having to remember it.
Translation: Make it easy to find stuff—no brain power required.
7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use: Power Users, Unite!
Some of us like shortcuts. Let experienced users do things faster with advanced options (think keyboard shortcuts or quick-access menus). But keep things easy for newbies, too.
Translation: Let us take the fast lane when we want to.
8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design: Less Is More
Ever opened an app that bombarded you with pop-ups, ads, and clutter? Yeah, not cool. Keep things clean and simple. Every element on the screen should serve a purpose.
Translation: Simplicity = beauty.
9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors: Tell Us What Went Wrong
If something breaks, don’t just say “Error 404” and call it a day. Explain the problem, tell us how to fix it, and guide us back on track.
Translation: If something crashes, help us fix it without panicking.
10. Help and Documentation: Give Us the Tea (If We Need It)
Most of the time, we want to figure stuff out without instructions. But if we get stuck, having clear help docs or FAQs can save us. Make sure the help content is easy to find and understand.
Translation: Provide a manual, but don’t make us dig for it.
Nielsen’s principles might sound technical, but they’re all about making apps, websites, and software easier and more enjoyable to use. For Gen Z, who’s always online, these rules keep our digital lives less frustrating and way more efficient. Remember, good UX doesn’t just happen. It’s designed. And when it’s done right, we hardly notice—it just works.
Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash