63. Refining UX, One Audit at a Time with Melissa Gallagher

Does the word “audit” send shivers down your spine?

This week I had the chance to chat with Melissa Gallagher, Product Designer at digital agency, Headway about something intimidating for most teams… UX audits. 😱

We kicked off our conversation by discussing the often-misunderstood nature of UX audits. Despite how intimidating the word “audit” can be, these assessments are vital for evaluating and improving software usability and user experience. She shed some light on the common reasons why some organizations might shy away from conducting these audits, such as how intimidating they can be, or more often than not, a lack of UX maturity​​.

Melissa took us through the UX audit process, starting with engaging stakeholders to understand their objectives. This step is crucial as it sets the foundation for the entire audit. She emphasized the importance of having a clear understanding of the user and their needs, which guides the rest of the auditing process​​.

A significant challenge in UX auditing is selling the idea to stakeholders, especially those with low UX maturity. Melissa shared her strategy for overcoming this hurdle, using relatable analogies to demystify the process and build stakeholder confidence. She highlighted the importance of setting expectations and focusing on prioritizing actionable recommendations post-audit​​.

So whether you’re a UX designer, design leader, or even part of the engineering team, don’t shy away from UX audits. They can save your team lots of time and money in the long run!

Topics:
• 7:39 – Why would we do UX audits?
• 10:30 – UX Audit process
• 11:44 – We need to measure first
• 15:46 – How to sell the idea to a stakeholder?
• 20:33 – Benefits of a UX audit
• 22:09 – Methods and tools for UX audits.
• 25:37 – Heuristic vs Audit
• 30:02 – What do UX audit tools look like?
• 34:12 – How do we measure the work to make sure we are improving
• 36:01 – Presenting all of this work

Helpful Links:
• Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn
• headway.io
• UX Audit Checklist
• UX Audit Process Template
• UX Audit Report Template

Melissa Gallagher
Senior Product Designer @ Headway

About Melissa

With a specialized focus on conducting comprehensive UX audits, Melissa excels at effectively communicating her findings to stakeholders. For her, the user isn’t just a consideration—it’s the core of her design philosophy. Guided by user insights, Melissa crafts informed recommendations that not only enhance a product’s user experience but also align with business goals. A staunch advocate for accessibility, Melissa’s commitment permeates every step of her design process. She’s on a continuous journey of learning and is always eager to share her rich knowledge with others.

Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn

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