An expert review is a method of user-centered development to assess and improve user-friendliness. Trained UX experts examine companies' (digital) applications using recognized guidelines and standards and uncover potential weaknesses. In contrast to user surveys or tests, expert reviews rely on the in-depth knowledge of experienced UX experts to identify optimization potential at an early stage.
At BUSSE, we not only offer comprehensive and professional analyses, but also attach particular importance to carrying them out in a cost-efficient manner - so that companies of all sizes can benefit from our expert reviews and achieve significant improvements.
But what exactly makes Expert Reviews so valuable? What is the added value of this method?
In today's digital age, a positive user experience is essential and can very quickly become decisive for the success of a product. Careful design that responds to the needs of users can make the difference between satisfaction and frustration when using a product.
This is exactly where expert reviews come into play. They offer a structured way to critically examine the user experience and make targeted improvements. One key aspect is the early detection of usability problems. At best, UX experts analyze existing or newly designed user interfaces in the early phases of the design process and identify potential weaknesses before users encounter them. Common approaches for this analysis are the cognitive walkthrough and heuristic evaluation.
In a cognitive walkthrough, UX experts slip into the role of the user and play through typical tasks within a predefined scenario. This checks whether users are able to perform the “right actions”. The heuristic evaluation, on the other hand, is based on common usability principles, such as the 7 interaction principles according to DIN EN ISO standard 9241-110 and Jakob Nielsen's ten usability heuristics. It is crucial that all identified UX problems are explained objectively in order to avoid subjective preferences of the experts and to formulate recommendations based on solid usability conventions and design principles.
This proactive approach makes it possible to minimize frustration and negative experiences, promoting a smoother interaction with the product.
Another advantage of expert reviews is their efficiency and cost-effectiveness. As no users are required for the tests, the reviews can be carried out quickly and easily. This allows problems to be identified and rectified promptly. Expert reviews also require fewer resources and less time than extensive usability tests, which makes them particularly attractive in the early phases of a project when budget and time are often limited.
Once an expert review has been carried out, the question naturally arises: what should the results contain and what is the next step?
First, the strengths of the current design are identified so that proven design elements are not lost in the further optimization process. At the same time, a comprehensive list of problems is drawn up that is clearly assigned to the respective areas in the current design. - Each problem is clearly explained.
To support the redesign process, each usability problem is subjected to a severity rating. This assessment makes it possible to prioritize the problems sensibly and address urgent issues first. In addition, recommendations for action are formulated, which either include concrete design proposals or the recommendation to carry out further investigations such as usability tests. In addition, concrete best practice examples simplify the optimization process, as they are usually more informative than extensive descriptions.
The results of an expert review therefore provide a valuable basis for further optimization of the design. By identifying strengths and weaknesses, assessing the severity of the problems and making specific recommendations for action, a clear roadmap is created that aims to significantly improve the user experience.
Expert Reviews at BUSSE
Our UI/UX design team offers you the opportunity to check your existing system through comprehensive expert reviews or more compact UX checks. Our approach is based on recognized standards and proven methods to ensure a comprehensive analysis.
A central component of our reviews and checks are the 7 interaction principles according to ISO EN DIN 9241-110. We also incorporate the “Heuristics for successful UX writing” guidelines from the German UPA. This guideline helps us to make a clear recommendation for the formulation of UX texts so that they provide meaningful support for users when operating a system.
In addition, we use the laws of design from the psychology of perception, such as the law of proximity, similarity, common fate and closure, to analyze visual design and user guidance. These principles help us to understand how users perceive and interpret information.
To make it easier to identify usability problems, we use a rating system that shows the severity of violations of design rules. We differentiate between four categories:
- Severe describes massive usability problems that can lead to significant negative consequences and should be rectified urgently.
- Moderate describes problems that significantly impair the use of the application and whose resolution is recommended as a priority.
- Minor, on the other hand, refers to more cosmetic problems that are recommended to be fixed to optimize usability but have a low priority.
- Finally, Positive summarizes the positive aspects of the system that should be retained.
This well-founded approach provides important insights that can be directly translated into meaningful measures for product optimization.
Are you interested in a UX check or expert review?
Please get in touch with us! We will answer all your questions on the subject.
