An expert review is the foundation of UX methods. It is used to ensure that the interface meets the needs of its citizens.
They inspects a system such as a website or application, or a section therein to check for possible issues. The distinction between heuristic evaluations and expert reviews is blurry in many organizations, and it’s okay to think of an expert review as a more general version of a heuristic evaluation.
Here is my way of working in 4 steps:
1. Define the objectives of the evaluation
1. Define the objectives of the evaluation
Identify target users:
Who are the main users of the site?
What are their needs, digital skills and expectations?
Determine the key tasks:
What actions should users be able to perform easily on the site?
Establish the evaluation criteria:
What aspects of the user interface do you want to evaluate? Do you want to assess the clarity of information, the consistency of navigation, the accessibility, etc.)
2. Choose the methodology
2. Choose the methodology
Heuristics:
Evaluate the site according to a set of recognised usability principles (e.g. Nielsen’s 10 principles of usability #1994 still relevant).
Usability testing:
Observing real users carrying out tasks on the site and gathering their feedback.
Cognitive inspection:
Analysing the site in depth to identify potential usability problems.
Combination of methods:
For a complete evaluation, it is often recommended to combine several methods.
An expert evaluation could be done on lots of things: Accessibility, Content, Navigation, SEO, Visual consistency, and so on.
3. Gather and analyse the data
3. Gather and analyse the data
Record, note, capture:
Use screen capture software, video recorders and tools for tracking user activity.
Identify problems:
Identify difficulties encountered, errors made and areas of confusion.
Rank problems:
Prioritise problems according to their severity and frequency.
Formulate recommendations:
Propose concrete solutions to improve the usability of the site.
4. Present findings
4. Present findings
Write & Present the results:
Summarise the main conclusions of the evaluation.
Formulate an action plan:
Detail the actions to be taken to improve the usability of the site.
Prioritise actions:
Rank the recommendations in order of importance.
Specific features of European public institutions
Multilingualism: Assess the usability of the site in all the official languages of the EU.
Accessibility: Ensure that the site is accessible to all users, including disabled people. Compliance with European standards: Check that the site complies with European directives on accessibility (WCAG).
Useful tools
Usability testing software: Hotjar, UserTesting, Lookback
Accessibility analysis tools: WAVE, aXe, Lighthouse
In resume
In resume
A rigorous usability review is essential to improve the user experience of a European public institution’s website. By following these steps and taking into account the specific features of this type of site, you will be able to identify the weak points and propose concrete solutions to make the site more effective and easier to use for all citizens.