18F

18F - Interface Audit

An Interface Audit is a systematic review of a digital product's visual and interactive elements. This 180-minute exercise catalogs styles, colors, icons, buttons, forms, navigation, and layouts. Teams document inconsistencies, missing patterns, and accessibility issues. The audit builds a foundation for a design system, revealing patterns to standardize or eliminate. Expect a component inventory with screenshots, usage counts, and recommendations. This speeds up design and ensures a consistent user experience.

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
3-6
Category
18F
Difficulty
Easy
Energy
Medium

Objectives

Identify website components needing revision for consistency and gap filling. Establish and document a design system for the website.

Outcomes


  • Interface audit findings.

  • Documented current state.

  • Foundation for improvements.

Step-by-Step Instructions


  1. Identify the website and take screenshots of all pages for auditing.

  2. Create a checklist of aspects to audit on each page (e.g., typography, colors, buttons, icons).

  3. For each page, note each aspect on your checklist.

  4. Compare notes and identify inconsistencies across pages.

  5. Decide how to resolve inconsistencies by choosing an existing approach or designing a new solution.

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Facilitator Tips

Before you start, ensure access to all interfaces (staging, screenshots, or live). Waiting for credentials kills momentum. Assign a severity rating to each element immediately. Deferring judgment loses context. 'Needs attention' is vague. Use 'Critical inconsistency,' 'Minor deviation,' or 'Acceptable variance.' Teams often audit what they built instead of what users see. Include error states and edge cases. Prioritize findings by frequency x severity. A minor issue on every screen beats a critical issue on one obscure page. Document with screenshots showing the problem and expected behavior. I've seen teams get bogged down in minor details; keep the big picture in mind.

Pre-Work

For Facilitators

  • Review participant profiles and expectations
  • Prepare all materials and supplies
  • Test technology and room setup

For Participants

  • Complete pre-session survey
  • Review background materials
  • Prepare examples or case studies

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Materials Required


  • Interface screenshots

  • Evaluation criteria

  • Audit checklist

  • Documentation tools

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Resources & Templates

Brad Frost - Interface Inventory
Detailed guide on conducting interface inventories.
UI Audit Checklist
Comprehensive checklist for UI audits.

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Discussion

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