UX audit
A UX audit reviews an experience to identify problems and opportunities related to user and business needs
What it means, how it is used and where it comes up, with its related concepts.
What it is and how it works
It can combine expert analysis, data and available research. It should explain the evidence, impact and priority of each finding. An assessment of screens without tasks or context offers a limited view of the service.
Frequently asked questions about UX audit
Does a UX audit replace user testing?
No. An expert review can detect problems based on usability criteria, but it does not directly observe how people act in their context. User testing provides that evidence and can reveal difficulties that were not obvious to the team. The report should distinguish observed problems from inferred risks and identify which ones need research before a solution is proposed.
How do you prioritize the issues found in a UX audit?
They are prioritized by the severity of the obstacle, its frequency and its persistence, also considering which task it affects and for whom. The effort needed to fix it is a separate dimension, not a measure of its severity. Make the evidence and uncertainty behind each rating explicit. An easy fix can be handled early, but it should not overshadow another issue that prevents completing an essential task.
What should a UX audit finding include so the team can act on it?
It should state where it occurs, which task it hinders, what evidence supports it and what consequence it has for the user. It also helps to explain its priority and propose how to verify the improvement. A screenshot with an aesthetic opinion is rarely enough. The recommendation may be a specific fix or a question that requires research; not every finding makes it possible to decide the best solution right away.