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.
Analytics data are only as valuable as the insights derived from them. Some figures can stand on their own while others need further research to be interpreted. To use analytics data confidently and accurately, teams must understand the difference.
Formative usability testing is best done with a small number of study participants, so that you have time and budget to test more design iterations of the user interface.
Organizations climbing the eight levels of UX Maturity can become complacent at level 4, when they have been allocated budget. Budget does not equal maturity or even viability. Identify your maturity and how to progress.
Jobs-to-be-done and personas are tools that identify user needs and attitudes. Each tool focuses on different aspects of the use experience and are compatible.
Chunking makes content easier to comprehend and remember. Chunking text help users understand the relationship between content elements and information hierarchy.
Field studies observe how people interact with interfaces in their own environment. Real-world contexts reveal behaviors for which you might not be aware.
