Heuristic Evaluation Summary
I reviewed TrailReady using Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics. Below are the four most significant issues discovered during the heuristic evaluation. Each issue includes the violated heuristic and an estimated severity rating based on impact and frequency.
1. Lack of Navigation Feedback
There is no visual indicator to show which page is currently active in the navigation bar. This lack of system feedback can cause confusion, especially on a small site where users may move between pages frequently. Highlighting the active page would enhance orientation and ease of use.
Violated Heuristic: Visibility of System
Status
Severity: 2 – Minor usability problem
2. Language and Visual Representation
Although the content is beginner-friendly, some gear terms and sections (e.g., the Gear Guide) could be supported with more intuitive visuals or icons to help users match the content with real-world expectations. For example, first-time users may not recognize gear names without images.
Violated Heuristic: Match Between System and
the Real World
Severity: 2 – Minor usability
problem
3. Limited User Control
Users cannot easily return to the home page once on subpages (Gear, Tips, etc.), as there is no prominent “Home” button outside of the navbar. Additionally, the form has no "Edit" or "Clear" feature. A cancel/reset option could reduce errors and increase user confidence.
Violated Heuristic: User Control and
Freedom
Severity: 3 – Major usability
problem
4. Skimming Difficulty
While the site uses a clean design, some areas—such as long paragraphs and dense text—could benefit from better visual hierarchy. Adding subheadings, spacing, or bolded key terms would improve readability, especially for users who skim for quick takeaways.
Violated Heuristic: Aesthetic and Minimalist
Design
Severity: 1 – Cosmetic problem
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