AI Skill Report Card
Validating UX Decisions
YAML--- name: validating-ux-decisions description: Validates UX design decisions using lightweight research methods. Use when you need to test usability, landing page clarity, navigation structure, or prioritize design changes without dedicated UX research resources. ---
UX Validation for Brand Designers
Quick Start15 / 15
5-Minute Landing Page Test:
- Show page for 5 seconds
- Hide page, ask: "What is this company/product? What can you do here? What would you click first?"
- Show again, ask them to complete primary action
- Note confusion points and time to completion
Recommendation▾
Add more concrete input/output examples - only 2 examples provided and they lack detail on actual findings/changes made
Workflow13 / 15
Research Planning Checklist
Progress:
- Define key question (usability issue, clarity, findability, conversion)
- Choose method based on question type
- Recruit 5-8 participants (internal team + 3-5 external)
- Prepare scripts/materials
- Test with 1 person first
- Document findings in simple template
- Present 3 key insights + recommended changes
Recommendation▾
Reduce length by consolidating similar sections - heuristic evaluation checklist could be shortened to key principles
Guerrilla Usability Testing (B2B Sites)
Script Template:
"I'm testing the website, not you. Think aloud as you try to [specific task].
If you get stuck, that helps us improve it."
Tasks (pick 2-3):
- Find pricing for [specific service]
- Contact sales about [scenario]
- Download [specific resource]
- Sign up for trial/demo
Observer notes: Where do they pause? What do they expect vs find?
Logistics:
- Coffee shops, coworking spaces, industry events
- 10-15 minutes per person
- Offer $10-20 gift card or coffee
- Use phone screen recording (ask permission)
5-Second Tests
What to Test:
- Value proposition clarity
- Primary action visibility
- Trust indicators effectiveness
- Visual hierarchy
Questions to Ask:
- What is this company/product?
- Who is it for?
- What would you click first?
- What's the main benefit?
Red Flags:
- Hesitation before answering
- Generic/vague responses
- Focus on wrong elements
Card Sorting for Navigation
Setup:
- List all main pages/sections on cards
- Ask users to group related items
- Have them name each group
- Test with 8-12 people
Digital Tools:
- OptimalSort (free tier)
- Miro/Figma boards
- Physical index cards
Analysis:
- Look for items consistently grouped together
- Note what people name categories
- Items placed in multiple groups need clearer labeling
Heuristic Evaluation
Nielsen's 10 Principles Checklist:
Visibility of System Status:
- Loading states shown
- Current page highlighted in nav
- Form validation immediate
Match Real World:
- Icons universally understood
- Language matches user terms
- Logical flow matches mental model
User Control:
- Undo/cancel options
- Clear exit paths
- User can control pace
Consistency:
- Same actions work same way
- Visual patterns consistent
- Language consistent
Error Prevention:
- Constraints prevent bad input
- Confirmation for destructive actions
- Smart defaults provided
Recognition > Recall:
- Options visible vs memorized
- Instructions accessible when needed
- Progress indicators clear
Efficiency:
- Shortcuts for power users
- Bulk actions available
- Minimal steps to complete tasks
Aesthetic Design:
- No irrelevant information
- Clear visual hierarchy
- White space used well
Error Recovery:
- Plain language error messages
- Constructive solutions offered
- Easy to recover
Help Documentation:
- Searchable help
- Task-focused
- Concise steps
Severity Scale: 0=No problem, 1=Cosmetic, 2=Minor, 3=Major, 4=Catastrophic
GA/Hotjar Data Interpretation
Key Metrics to Track:
Bounce Rate Issues:
-
70% = unclear value prop or wrong traffic
- Compare top entry pages
- Check mobile vs desktop
Conversion Funnels:
- Biggest drop-off points = redesign priority
- Forms with <50% completion = too complex
- CTAs with <2% click rate = positioning/copy issue
Hotjar Heatmaps:
- Clicks on non-clickable elements = missed expectations
- Scroll depth <50% = content too long/boring
- Rage clicks = usability problem
User Session Recordings:
- Watch 10 sessions weekly
- Note: confusion points, unexpected behavior, task failures
- Look for patterns across sessions
Prioritization Framework: High Impact + Low Effort = Do First
- Traffic volume × conversion impact × implementation ease
- Focus on pages with >1000 monthly visitors first
Examples10 / 20
Example 1: Landing Page Test Input: SaaS pricing page with 15% conversion Process: 5-second test + task completion Output: "Users confused about which plan includes API access. Move feature comparison above fold." Result: 23% conversion after changes
Example 2: Navigation Card Sort Input: 12 main website sections Process: 10 users group and label categories Output: 80% grouped "Case Studies" with "Portfolio", suggesting rename to "Our Work"
Recommendation▾
Include specific templates or frameworks rather than just mentioning them - provide actual email scripts, report templates, or scoring sheets
Best Practices
- Test early and often - Validate before visual design
- Start with highest-traffic pages - Biggest impact potential
- Mix internal and external participants - Insider knowledge blinds you
- Document everything - Use templates for consistency
- Test competitors too - Understand user expectations
- Focus on task completion - Not opinions about design
Common Pitfalls
- Over-recruiting - 5 users find 85% of usability issues
- Leading questions - "Is this clear?" vs "What is this?"
- Testing prototypes only - Real content reveals different issues
- Ignoring mobile behavior - 60%+ traffic is mobile
- Analysis paralysis - Ship improvements, measure, iterate
- Fixing symptoms not causes - Button color won't fix unclear messaging
Quick Validation Cycle: Test → Analyze → Fix → Measure → Repeat every 2-4 weeks.