tools-only UX Walkthrough Checklist
Evaluate each screen against these categories during a walkthrough. Based on Nielsen's usability heuristics, adapted for web apps.
Per-Screen Evaluation
| Category | What to Check |
|---|---|
| First Impression | Does the page orient me? Do I know what I can do here? |
| Navigation | Can I find what I need in 3 clicks or fewer? Is the current location clear? |
| Labels & Icons | Do they describe what they do? Would a first-time user understand them? |
| Visual Hierarchy | Is the most important information prominent? Is secondary info de-emphasised? |
| Call to Action | Is the primary action obvious? Are secondary actions visually distinct? |
| Forms | Are required fields marked? Is validation immediate and clear? Are error messages helpful? |
| Feedback | Does the app confirm my actions? Are there loading states? Success/error toasts? |
| Error Recovery | Can I undo mistakes? Is there a back button? Are destructive actions guarded? |
| Consistency | Same patterns used for similar features? Same terminology throughout? |
| Data Display | Tables sorted sensibly? Pagination? Empty states helpful? Long text truncated? |
Cross-Cutting Checks
| Category | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Mobile (375px) | Touch targets at least 44px. No horizontal scroll. Text readable. Forms usable. |
| Dark Mode | All text readable. No invisible elements. Borders/separators visible. Images appropriate. |
| Keyboard | Tab order logical. Focus indicators visible. Modals trap focus. Escape closes dialogs. |
| Loading States | Skeleton screens or spinners. No layout shift when data loads. Buttons disabled during submit. |
| Empty States | Helpful message when no data. Clear call to action to add first item. |
Friction Scoring
When you find an issue, classify it:
| Severity | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Critical | User cannot complete their task | Submit button does nothing, form data lost |
| High | User is confused or takes wrong path | Unclear labels cause wrong selection, no undo on delete |
| Medium | User succeeds but with unnecessary effort | Required field not marked, have to scroll to find action |
| Low | Minor polish issue | Inconsistent capitalisation, alignment off by a few pixels |
Walkthrough Questions
Ask these while walking through as a first-time user:
- If I landed here with no training, would I know what to do first?
- Can I complete the task without reading documentation?
- When I click something, does the result match what I expected?
- If I make a mistake, can I recover without losing work?
- Would I feel confident using this in front of a colleague?