LM
LM
LM
LM
Oct 2023
SOUNDCLOUD
Heuristic Analysis
2023
Heuristics
Mock-up
Prototype
Figma
UI
Identifying usability violations based on Jakob Nielsen’s 10 general principles for interaction design.
Scope
In-depth usability audit of a mainstream audio streaming platform
Focus
Expert heuristic review to identify usability violations and propose design improvements
Challenge
Despite its popularity, SoundCloud presents overlooked usability issues; such as confusing flows, poor visibility of controls, and inconsistent user feedback; that hinder seamless music discovery and interaction. The task was to conduct a systematic heuristic evaluation to uncover these problems.
My Role & Process:
Selected key heuristics (e.g., visibility of system status, user control & freedom, error prevention) and reviewed the app against them.
Examined core user journeys such as discovering music, creating playlists, and interacting with community features.
Documented usability violations and rated them by severity, identifying patterns such as:
Missing or hidden controls for playlist actions
Confusing messaging workflows
Poor affordance for key features like “Add to Next Up”
Synthesized findings into actionable recommendations; highlighting where the apps interface deviated from standard usability expectations.
Outcome: The analysis provided a clear roadmap for improving SoundCloud’s UX: enhancing visibility, simplifying flows, and aligning with user mental models. While the audit did not fully redesign the app, it revealed crucial insight into how heuristic evaluation can guide better design decisions and enhance usability.
Scope
In-depth usability audit of a mainstream audio streaming platform
Focus
Expert heuristic review to identify usability violations and propose design improvements
Challenge
Despite its popularity, SoundCloud presents overlooked usability issues; such as confusing flows, poor visibility of controls, and inconsistent user feedback; that hinder seamless music discovery and interaction. The task was to conduct a systematic heuristic evaluation to uncover these problems.
My Role & Process:
Selected key heuristics (e.g., visibility of system status, user control & freedom, error prevention) and reviewed the app against them.
Examined core user journeys such as discovering music, creating playlists, and interacting with community features.
Documented usability violations and rated them by severity, identifying patterns such as:
Missing or hidden controls for playlist actions
Confusing messaging workflows
Poor affordance for key features like “Add to Next Up”
Synthesized findings into actionable recommendations; highlighting where the apps interface deviated from standard usability expectations.
Outcome: The analysis provided a clear roadmap for improving SoundCloud’s UX: enhancing visibility, simplifying flows, and aligning with user mental models. While the audit did not fully redesign the app, it revealed crucial insight into how heuristic evaluation can guide better design decisions and enhance usability.
