An expert review is a fast, low-cost way to spot usability issues without recruiting users. This checklist helps you capture strengths, issues, and severity consistently.
What you'll get:
- A UX expert review checklist
- A copy/paste expert review template
- A lightweight report outline
Use the sections below as building blocks; keep what you need and delete the rest.
For a heuristic-led review, use the heuristic evaluation template.
References for this guide are listed at the end.
What is a UX expert review?
An expert review is a design review where a UX professional inspects a system to identify usability problems and strengths. It is a usability-inspection method that does not require real users during the review.
Expert review vs heuristic evaluation
Heuristic evaluation is a structured review against a set of usability heuristics. Expert reviews are broader and often use heuristics plus other usability guidelines and experience.
Expert review vs usability testing
Expert reviews are fast and inexpensive because they do not require recruiting users. But results depend on the reviewer’s expertise, so expert reviews do not replace usability testing. They work best together.
When to do an expert review
Expert reviews can be done at any stage as long as you have a prototype or live design. Common moments:
- Early discovery to identify problems in the current site
- Before usability testing to remove obvious issues
- As a periodic health check (every few years)
Who should run it
The review should be led by a UX expert who was not involved in creating the design. A fresh perspective reduces bias and spots issues hidden from the original team.
Components of a strong expert review
Nielsen Norman Group recommends making reviews actionable with:
- Strengths (what to keep)
- Problems with clear explanations and cited principles
- Severity ratings
- Recommendations and examples
UX expert review checklist
Use this checklist to guide the review.
- [ ] Define scope (flows, pages, devices)
- [ ] Review navigation, structure, and labels
- [ ] Review search functionality
- [ ] Review mobile experience
- [ ] Review accessibility basics
- [ ] Review SEO basics and content clarity
- [ ] Capture strengths and issues
- [ ] Assign severity (high/medium/low)
- [ ] Provide clear recommendations
Expert review template (copy/paste)
Issue log template
| Area | Issue summary | Principle violated | Severity | Recommendation | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navigation | Labels do not match user language | Match between system and real world | High | Rename items to user terms | Screenshot + user quote |
Strengths log
| Area | What works | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile | Primary CTA stays visible | Supports task completion on small screens |
Severity rating (simple)
Nielsen Norman Group often uses a 3-point severity scale:
- High: Blocks tasks or causes major confusion
- Medium: Slows users or causes repeated friction
- Low: Cosmetic or minor inconsistency
Expert review report outline
Expert reviews often end in a written report with findings and recommendations.
- Summary (top 5 findings)
- Scope and context
- Strengths
- Issues by severity
- Recommendations and examples
- Next steps
FAQ
Can an expert review replace usability testing?
No. Expert reviews are faster, but they should be paired with usability testing when possible.
Are expert reviews only for websites?
No. Expert reviews can be used for websites, apps, and any system with a user interface.
References
- Nielsen Norman Group — UX Expert Reviews
- UserTesting — Expert Review
- UXtweak — Expert Review
- University of Michigan — Have A UX Expert Review Your Website
- Infragistics — Reviews Usability User Research
Related resources
- Website UX checklist
- Website usability checklist
- How to conduct usability testing
- Website audit checklist
- Website UX best practices
If you want a fast UX audit for a specific page, start here: Website UX Audit
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