Jakob Nielsen's 10 general principles for interaction design. They are called "heuristics" because they are broad rules of thumb for UX and not specific usability guidelines.
Empathy maps help UX teams visualize user attitudes and behaviors, building a shared understanding of end users while highlighting gaps in existing user data.
Modern day UX research methods answer a wide range of questions. To know when to use which method, each of 20 methods is mapped across 3 dimensions and over time within a typical product-development process.
User interviews have become a popular technique for getting user feedback, mainly because they are fast and easy. Use them to learn about users’ perceptions of your design, not about its usability.
User journeys and user flows both describe processes users go through in order to accomplish their goals, but they differ in scope, purpose, and format.
iOS 26’s visual language obscures content instead of letting it take the spotlight. New (but not always better) design patterns replace established conventions.
Elaborate usability tests are a waste of resources. The best results come from testing no more than 5 users and running as many small tests as you can afford.
In a card-sorting study, users organize topics into groups. Use this research method to create an information architecture that suits your users' expectations.
The road to usability is paved with temptations to complicate the design with extra features and options, but resisting featuritis is the best prescription for a good user experience.
Saying 'I don't know' at work can be scary, but by focusing on how you would find the answer to the question, you'll still be in control of the conversation.
User research studies need research goals: what are you trying to learn? Too broad, and you may have no actionable insights to drive the design process.
Probing vs. leading. Saying enough to make your participant comfortable, but not so much you derail the research. 5 pitfalls in the user interview process are demonstrated so that you can avoid them the next time you talk with users.
User story maps visualize the activities, steps, and details users go through in a product or feature. Instead of heavy requirements documents, story maps communicate how the pieces fit together before design and development.
Focusing on shipping new features instead of solving customer problems results in products and services that don't serve real users. Shift the mindset from 'what did we get done' to 'how valuable is the work that we're delivering' to avoid becoming a feature factory.
Informational interviews allow you to connect with users and other people and get a glimpse into their world and how and why they work. They serve as an informal research tool for learning about a new domain or role.
The foundation of user experience is the difference between the people on the design team and the people using the product. You can't ask users to design, but you also can't ask the designers whether their own design will be easy for the target audience to use.
