Course Curriculum

12 Sections
00

Why the 10 Usability Heuristics Matter

4 Lessons 31 min
  • Introduction to Usability Heuristics 4 min
  • What Are Heuristics? 13 min
  • Evolution of Usability Heuristics 5 min
  • Pros and Cons of Relying on Heuristics 9 min

Resources Provided

  • 0.1_CheatSheet_10-Usability-Heuristics (PDF)
  • 0.1_Poster_Heuristic-Summary (PDF)
01

Visibility of System Status

7 Lessons 82 min
  • Why It Matters 9 min
  • Immediate Feedback (Within 1 Second) 8 min
  • Short-Term Processes (2 Seconds to a Few Minutes) 12 min
  • Long-Running Processes (Hours to Days) 19 min
  • Wayfinding Cues 11 min
  • System Mode and State 1 min
  • System Health and Resource Usage 1 min

Practice Activities

  • Instructions 20 min
  • Walkthrough 1 min

Resources Provided

  • 1.1_Poster_Heuristic-1 (PDF)
02

Match Between System and the Real World

5 Lessons 69 min
  • Skeuomorphism and Language 12 min
  • Icons and Mapping 9 min
  • Mental Models 7 min
  • Schemas and Scripts 9 min
  • Signifiers 12 min

Practice Activities

  • Instructions 17 min
  • Walkthrough 3 min

Resources Provided

  • 2.1_Poster_Heuristic-2 (PDF)
03

User Control and Freedom

5 Lessons 56 min
  • Why It Matters 6 min
  • Principles Behind the Heuristic 6 min
  • Undo and Redo 6 min
  • Navigation and Back to Previous Step 10 min
  • Flexible Workflows 6 min

Practice Activities

  • Instructions 19 min
  • Walkthrough 3 min

Resources Provided

  • 3.1_Poster_Heuristic-3 (PDF)
04

Consistency and Standards

5 Lessons 74 min
  • Why It Matters 9 min
  • Determining Standards 14 min
  • Principles Behind the Heuristic 7 min
  • Visual and Structural Consistency 12 min
  • Language and Terminology Consistency 11 min

Practice Activities

  • Instructions 18 min
  • Walkthrough 3 min

Resources Provided

  • 4.1_Poster_Heuristic-4 (PDF)
05

Error Prevention

4 Lessons 51 min
  • Why It Matters 6 min
  • Smart Defaults and Input Constraints 13 min
  • Form Validation 8 min
  • Destructive Actions 5 min

Practice Activities

  • Instructions 17 min
  • Walkthrough 2 min

Resources Provided

  • 5.1_Poster_Heuristic-5 (PDF)
06

Recognition Rather Than Recall

4 Lessons 68 min
  • Why It Matters 14 min
  • Navigation, Breadcrumbs, Links, and Contextual Guidance 13 min
  • Forms and Inputs 11 min
  • History and Favorites 7 min

Practice Activities

  • Instructions 19 min
  • Walkthrough 4 min

Resources Provided

  • 6.1_Poster_Heuristic-6 (PDF)
07

Flexibility and Efficiency of Use

5 Lessons 62 min
  • Why It Matters 7 min
  • Five Factors for Deciding How Much Flexibility to Offer 6 min
  • Accelerators 9 min
  • Progressive Disclosure 12 min
  • Customization and Personalization 8 min

Practice Activities

  • Instructions 18 min
  • Walkthrough 2 min

Resources Provided

  • 7.1_Poster_Heuristic-7 (PDF)
08

Aesthetic and Minimalist Design

6 Lessons 77 min
  • Why It Matters 18 min
  • Visual Hierarchy 9 min
  • Scale 4 min
  • Contrast 9 min
  • Balance 6 min
  • Gestalt 10 min

Practice Activities

  • Instructions 17 min
  • Walkthrough 4 min

Resources Provided

  • 8.1_Poster_Heuristic-8 (PDF)
09

Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors

2 Lessons 19 min
  • Why It Matters 6 min
  • Error Messages 13 min

Resources Provided

  • 9.1_Poster_Heuristic-9 (PDF)
10

Help and Documentation

2 Lessons 22 min
  • Proactive Help 14 min
  • Reactive Help 8 min

Resources Provided

  • 10.1_Poster_Heuristic-10 (PDF)
11

Key Takeaways

2 Lessons 12 min
  • Heuristic Themes 4 min
  • Applying Heuristics to the Design Process 8 min

Learning Outcomes

  • Define each of the 10 usability heuristics
  • Defend the value of applying the 10 usability heuristics
  • Recognize and diagnose design issues through the heuristics
  • Explain the psychological principles that the heuristics rely on
  • Connect design choices and recommendations to the supporting heuristics

Course Preview

 to watch NN/g videos

Tools Used in This Course

All resources can be accessed through a standard PDF reader.

Turn Problems Into Solutions

Catch usability issues before they become expensive problems

  • Quickly spot both strong and weak design choices
  • Recognize small UX issues before they become big problems
  • Save time by identifying issues early to avoid reworking existing designs

Diagnose UX problems and identify reliable solutions

  • Use heuristics to depersonalize critiques and focus on users
  • Connect usability issues directly to the heuristics they violate
  • Suggest effective and dependable solutions by predicting user needs

Make confident design recommendations grounded in best practices

  • Support your UX decisions with solid principles, not just gut feelings
  • Defend design choices with research-backed reasoning
  • Resolve design disagreements with evidence, not opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will I have access to this course?
Once purchased, your access will never expire. This ensures you can learn at your own pace and return to review content as often as you'd like, whenever you need.
Will I get personalized instructor feedback on course activities?
No, personalized feedback is not provided for activities completed during the course. Most courses provide answer keys to activities that help learners reflect on their progress and understanding of course materials and examples.
What content can I download?
You can download a variety of resources provided with each course, including templates, how-to guides, cheat sheets, posters, reading lists, and more. Video lessons provided in all courses will not be available for download.
Can I access this course offline or on a mobile device?
Offline access isn't available yet, although we plan to add it. Most courses offer downloadable resources for offline reference.

For the best experience, mobile devices are not recommended.
Is this course eligible for the NNGroup UX Certification Program?
Unfortunately, self-paced courses do not count toward UX Certification. However, learners who complete the final exam will receive a “Recognition of Completion” to demonstrate their achievement.

See our Live Online courses for options that count toward UX Certification.
What can I share with my employer to show I’ve completed the training?
Upon completing a course’s final assessment, you will receive a “Recognition of Completion” showcasing your dedication to learning the topic. This document can be shared with your employer or professional network to demonstrate your new skills and commitment to professional development.