Design Audit

Handbook
The secrets to uncover key UX Issues

and improve digital products for higher conversions

What’s inside

1
Introduction 4
UX Audit Lifecycle

Phase 1: UX Audit Kickoff - Setting the Stage

2
Understanding UX Audit Phase 2: Conducting the UX Audit

Phase 3: Post-Audit – Insights & Next Steps

3
Types of UX Audit
5
Conclusion

1. Usability Audit

2. Accessibility Audit

3. Information Architecture Audit

4. Visual Design Audit

5. Content Audit

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About US
About Us
About us

About Us
Lollypop Design Studio is a leading UI UX design agency driven by innovation, culture, and creativity! We're a group of
180+ creative minds spread across the globe, dedicated to crafting exceptional digital experiences. With a user-first
approach, we blend strategy, design, and technology to help brands transform their products and create meaningful
interactions.

Proud Achievements
$3 Billions in Funding - Total amount raised by our clients as of 2021

A Billion Lives - We’ve enabled and empowered more than a billion lives across the globe with our services.

30+ Awards - Our designs have received acclaim & recognition all around the world.

A Million & Counting - Our digital solutions have been consistently downloaded and used by millions of people.

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Introduc
Introduction
Introduction

Is your UX helping or hurting your users?

At Lollypop, we believe that great design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating experiences that work
effortlessly for users. Yet, even well-crafted digital products can have hidden usability issues: confusing navigation,
frustrating interactions, or accessibility gaps that quietly turn users away.

That’s where a UX Audit comes in!

Think of it as a reality check for your digital experience—spotting usability roadblocks, inconsistent interactions, and
design missteps through the eyes of real users.

It answers the question: “Does your product feel intuitive, or is it secretly frustrating users?”

In a world where attention spans are shrinking and expectations are rising, even small UX flaws can make or break user
retention. A well-executed UX Audit transforms friction into flow, confusion into clarity, and drop-offs into conversions.

Let’s dig in and make your UX work smarter!

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Understa
Understanding

UX Audit
U n d e r s ta n d i n g U X Au d i t / W h at i s U X AU D i t

1 What is UX audit?

A UX audit is a comprehensive evaluation of a digital product's user experience (UX). While it primarily focuses on
identifying UX issues, it also highlights areas of strength—such as well-performing user flows or features that engage
users effectively.

Specifically, a UX audit aims to answer key questions, including

What are the main problems or challenges users face

What underlying factors contribute to these issues
Which elements or flows are users engaging with most successfully
What UX improvements can be made to enhance the overall user experience?

By understanding both the pain points and the positive aspects, a UX audit empowers businesses with the insights
needed to make impactful, data-driven design improvements.

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U n d e r s ta n d i n g U X Au d i t / B e n e f i t s o f c o n d u c t i n g a U X au d i t

2 Benefits of conducting a UX audit

Improves Usability Boosts Conversion Rates Enhances Accessibility

Reduces Bounce Rates Saves Time & Dev Costs

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A visually stunning product
means nothing if users struggle
to navigate it!
Understanding UX Audit / When to conduct a UX audit

3 When should businesses conduct UX audits?

Before UI Design Performance Issues

Redesign Periodic Review

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A UX Audit is key to improving user
experience and boosting retention.
Essential for any business relying on
websites, apps, or SaaS platforms.
Types of
Types of UX Audits
T y p e s o f U X AU D I T / Us a b i l i t y au d i t

1 Usability Audit

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T ypes of UX AUDIT / Accessibilit y audit

2 Accessibility Audit

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T y p e s o f U X AU D I T / I n f o r m at i o n A rc h i t ec t u r e Au d i t

3 Information Architecture Audit

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T ypes of UX AUDIT / Visual Design Audit

4 Visual Design Audit

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T y p e s o f U X AU D I T / C o n t e n t Au d i t

5 Content Audit

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Checklis
Checklist for UX Audit
C h ec k l i s t f o r U X Au d i t

Your checklist
1 2 3 4 5
Usability Audit Accessibility Audit IA Audit Visual Design Audit Content Audit

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UX Audit
UX Audit Lifecycle
 1 UX Audit Kickoff

3
Aligning on objectives, defining the audit
scope, and gathering essential data.

Key phases of 2 Conducting the UX Audit

UX Audit Evaluating usability, accessibility, and

Lifecycle
interaction patterns to uncover friction points.

3 Post-Audit
Translating findings into an actionable
roadmap to improve the user experience.

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Phase 1
Phase 1
UX Audit Kickoff
P h as e 1 : U X Au d i t K i c ko f f / C l a r i f y O b j ec t i v e s & S c o p e

1 Clarify Objectives & Scope

A UX Audit can reveal a lot—but without clear objectives, it’s like searching for treasure without a map. The first step is to
define what success looks like and establish the scope of the audit.

Key Questions to Consider:

Why this audit? What user issues? What’s the focus area?

What outcome do we want? What are the constraints?

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P h a s e 1 : U X A u d i t K i c ko f f / G at h e r P r o d u c t D at a & U X M e t r i c s

2 Gather Product Data & UX Metrics

With clear objectives and scope in place, reviewing key product documents is essential to understand the original design
intent. Next, gather relevant performance data, such as time spent on pages, heatmaps, session frequency,

and click patterns.

These insights help auditors pinpoint usability pain points and refine their approach to focus on the most critical issues.

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P h as e 1 : P r e pa r e f o r U X Au d i t / Data r eq u i r e m e n t f o r k i c k - o f f

Data requirement for kick-off

Objective Data Required Scope Metrics

Reduce friction in User flows, wireframes, Checkout flow, account Task completion rate (e.g.,
completing critical actions functional prototypes, creation, form submissions, % of users finishing
like purchases
 usability testing recordings interactive widgets checkout)
and sign-ups
Usability Feature specifications, Onboarding, search Time on task (avg. time to
Identify and resolve interactive prototypes, functionality, navigation complete onboarding)
bottlenecks in high-impact usability test results, across key sections
workflow behavioral analytics

Ensure compliance with WCAG 2.1 guidelines, Color contrast, keyboard Accessibility score (e.g., %
WCAG 2.1 for inclusivity design files, content specs navigation, screen reader compliance via automated
support scans)
Improve accessibility for UI specifications, ARIA
Accesibility users with disabilities annotations, assistive Mobile gestures, voice Error rate (e.g., % of screen
technology reports input compatibility, alt text reader failures)
for images

Reduce user confusion by Menu categories, Sitemap, user journey maps, Navigation success rate
improving navigation flow subcategories, search taxonomy documentation (e.g., % finding target in <5
filters, and breadcrumbs seconds)
Decrease drop-offs caused Navigation maps, task
IA by complex task flows Core task sequences (e.g., analysis reports, wireframes Steps to completion (e.g.,
booking a service, avg. steps to finish a task)
submitting a form)

Increase website visual Homepage, Service pages Style guide, high-fidelity Click-through rate (e.g., %
clarity and hierarchy for mockups, UI screenshots clicking main CTA)
Dashboard layout, form
better user focus
fields. Design system User engagement rate (e.g.,
Visual Design Ensure app UI consistency documentation, component avg. session length)
for a cohesive experience library

Improve readability and Product descriptions, blog Content inventory, voice Readability score (e.g.,
relevance of product/ posts, FAQs, support and tone guidelines, CMS Flesch-Kincaid grade level)
service information articles exports
Time on page (e.g., avg.
Content Optimize onboarding and In-app guides, tooltips, Text scripts, user feedback seconds spent on help
help content for faster user instructional text, error logs, content style guide content)
adoption messages

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Phase 1: Deliverables

Deliverables
Audit Plan & Objectives Document – A clear outline of audit goals, scope, and key focus areas

Pre-Audit Data Collection – Gathered product documents, user analytics, and feedback insights

Annotated Screens & Findings – Visual references highlighting problem areas with explanations and suggested
improvements

Stakeholder Alignment – Agreement on expectations, constraints (timeline, budget, resources), and success
metrics.

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Phase 2
Phase 2
During UX Audit
P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t

In Phase 2, the focus shifts from planning to execution as the UX team conducts a
systematic product evaluation, focusing on the audit areas defined

in Phase 1.

We will take a deep dive into each audit type to explore common methods used to
identify key issues.

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / Us a b i l i t y Au d i t

1 Usability Audit
UX teams typically rely on two key approaches: Heuristic Evaluation and Usability
Testing to systematically identify these issues.

These methods provide a structured way to assess usability, pinpoint friction

points, and optimize the product for a more seamless user experience.

Usability audit helps uncover barriers that impact user interaction and overall
experience within a product.

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Phase 2: dURING UX Audit/ Usabilit y Audit / Heuristic Usabilit y

1 Heuristic Usability

10 Usability Heuristics by Jakob Nielsen (1994) is a set of 10 principles designed to evaluate usability and identify UX
issues in user interface design. Renowned for its clarity, versatility, and strong research foundation, this framework is
one of the most widely used methods for assessing and improving digital experiences.

How to conduct: During a Heuristic Evaluation, a team of UX experts will independently assess a product’s interface
against established principles - identifying usability issues, noting violations of principles and uncover areas for
improvement.

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P h a s e 2 : d U R I N G U X A u d i t / Us a b i l i t y A u d i t / H e u r i s t i c Us a b i l i t y

1 Heuristic Usability

1 2 3 4 5

Visibility of System
Match Between the
User Control and Freedom Consistency and Error Prevention
Status System and the Real World Standards

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / Us a b i l i t y Au d i t / H e u r i s t i c Us a b i l i t y

1 Heuristic Usability

6 7 8 9 10
Recognition Rather than Flexibility and Efficiency Aesthetic and Minimalist Help Users Recognize, Help and Documentation
Recall of Use Design Diagnose, and Recover
from Errors

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / Us a b i l i t y Au d i t / Us a b i l i t y T e s t i n g

2 Usability Testing

Usability testing is a UX research method used to evaluate how easy and intuitive a
product is by observing real users as they complete specific tasks. The goal is to
identify usability issues, understand user behavior, and improve the overall user
experience.

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P h a s e 2 : d U R I N G U X A u d i t / Us a b i l i t y A u d i t / Us a b i l i t y T e s t i n g

2 Usability Testing
1 Create Usability Testing Plan 2 Recruit the Right Participants
How to Conduct

3 Schedule & Set Up Testing Sessions 4 Execute Usability Tests

5 Document & Report Findings

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / Ac c e s s i b i l i t y Au d i t

2 Accessibility Audit
An accessibility audit ensures that a product is inclusive and usable for all
individuals, including those with disabilities.

To achieve this, UX teams typically conduct both automated accessibility tests and
manual evaluations, ensuring a comprehensive review of potential accessibility
issues.

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P h a s e 2 : d U R I N G U X A u d i t / A c c e s s i b i l i t y A u d i t / R u n A u t o m at e d A c c e s s i b i l i t y T e s t s

1 Run Automated Accessibility Tests

Before diving into manual evaluation, start with automated testing to quickly detect systematic accessibility issues across your digital
product. This initial scan helps pinpoint areas that need deeper manual review, streamlining the audit process for efficiency and accuracy.

To make the most of automated accessibility testing, you should:

Choose Reliable Tools Review and Prioritize Findings

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / AC C E S S I B I L I T Y Au d i t / P E R F O R M M A N UA L AC C E S S I B I L I T Y AU D I T S

2 Perform Manual Accessibility Audits

Building on automated findings, manual audits shift the focus to usability and real-world scenarios, ensuring the design is accessible for
people with disabilities. This step provides a human-centered perspective that automated tools cannot achieve.

To make the most of manual accessibility testing, you should

Test Real-World Scenarios Evaluate Contextual Accessibility Validate Automated Fixes

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / i n f o r m at i o n a rc h i t ec t u r e AU D I T

3 Information Architecture Audit

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / i n f o r m at i o n a rc h i t ec t u r e AU D I T / R E V I E W I A D O C U M E N TAT I O N

1 Review IA Documentation

Hierarchy and Structure Navigation Paths Consistency

Redundancy and Gaps Alignment with Goals

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P h a s e 2 : d U R I N G U X A u d i t / i n f o r m at i o n a r c h i t e c t u r e A U D I T / C O N D U C T I A T E S T I N G

2 Conduct IA Testing

Tree Testing

Card Sorting

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P h a s e 2 : d U R I N G U X A u d i t / V I S UA L D E S I G N A u d i t

4 Visual Design Audit

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / V I S UA L D E S I G N Au d i t / A P P LY D E S I G N P R I N C I P L E S

1 Apply Design Principles

Design principles provide essential guidelines that support designers in crafting visually appealing digital experiences. These principles
consider key elements of UI Design, such as color, shape, balance, contrast, etc. They derived from extensive observation and practical
expertise within the design field.

How to conduc

A team of UI designers systematically evaluates the product’s interface, checking for violations of design principles
They identify inconsistencies and areas where the visual hierarchy can be improved
Findings are documented with recommendations for enhancing clarity and user engagement.

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / V I S UA L D E S I G N Au d i t / C O M PA R E AGA I N S T B R A N D I N G A N D U I G U I D E L I N E S

2 Compare against branding and UI guidelines

Balance Alignment Repetition Contrast Colors Space Shape Direction Size

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Single set of principles is not applicable
to every design challenge. This requires
designers to remain flexible and adapt
solutions to meet the unique needs of
each project scenario.

P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / V I S UA L D E S I G N Au d i t / C O M PA R E AGA I N S T B R A N D I N G A N D U I G U I D E L I N E S

2 Compare against branding and UI guidelines

Balance Alignment Repetition

Contrast Space Shape

Direction Size Color

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P h a s e 2 : d U R I N G U X A u d i t / V I S U A L D E S I G N A u d i t / C O M PA R E A G A I N S T B R A N D I N G A N D U I G U I D E L I N E S

2 Compare against branding and UI guidelines

Direction Size Color

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / C o n t e n t Au d i t

5 Content Audit
A Content Audit evaluates the clarity, relevance, and effectiveness of a product’s
written and multimedia content to ensure it aligns with user needs and business
goals. This process involves reviewing text, images, videos, and other media across
the interface to identify inconsistencies, redundancies, or gaps that may impact
user experience.

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P h as e 2 : d U R I N G U X Au d i t / c o n t e n t Au d i t / c r e at e a c o n t e n t I N V E N T O R Y

1 Create a Content Inventory

Navigation Title Page Title Page URL

Subject Content type Last Updated Date

Note

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P h a s e 2 : d U R I N G U X A u d i t / c o n t e n t A u d i t / e va l u at e e x i s t i n g c o n t e n t

2 Evaluate Existing Content

Collaborate with Original Creators

Use Visual References

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Phase 2: Deliverables

Deliverables

Issues Report – A comprehensive document outlining usability issues, inconsistencies, and pain points identified
during the audit
Heuristic & Accessibility Evaluation – Insights based on heuristic principles and accessibility standards, highlighting
critical areas for improvement
User Testing & Research Findings– Key takeaways from usability testing, user interviews, or surveys conducted
during the audit
Preliminary Recommendations – Initial suggestions for addressing identified issues, categorized by priority and
impac
Stakeholder Review & Feedback – Alignment with key stakeholders to refine findings and ensure business and user
needs are addressed.

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Phase 3
Phase 3
Post UX Audit
P h as e 3 : P o s t U X Au d i t / P r i o r i t i s e F i n d i n g s a n d i m p l e m e n t r e m e d i at i o n

1 Prioritise Findings and implement remediation

Once UX issues have been identified, the next step is to categorise and address them based on their severity, impact, and
complexity of resolution

Critical: Severe issues that directly obstruct usability or prevent users from completing key tasks
High: Significant problems that affect user experience but are not as urgent as critical issues
Medium: Moderate issues that have a noticeable but less severe impact
Low: Minor concerns with minimal impact on usability or business goals.

This detailed approach ensures that the audit outcomes lead to actionable improvements, creating a well-structured and
user-centred product that aligns with organisational goals.

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P h as e 3 : P o s t U X Au d i t / Va l i dat e p e r f o r m a n c e a n d S c h e d u l e R eg u l a r Au d i t s

2 Validate performance and Schedule Regular Audits

1 Validate performance

2 Schedule Regular Audits

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Phase 3: Deliverables

Deliverables
UX Audit Report – A detailed document featuring an executive summary, audit methodology, prioritization framework,
and clear problem statements for identified issues
Prioritized Action Plan – A structured roadmap categorizing issues by severity (Critical, High, Medium, Low) with
recommendation for short-term and long-term fixes
Annotated Screens & Findings – Visual references highlighting problem areas with explanations and suggested
improvements
Validation & Performance Metrics – Key success indicators to measure improvements post-implementation
Validation & Performance Metrics – Key success indicators to measure improvements post-implementation
Audit Review & Stakeholder Alignment – Final presentation summarizing findings, recommendations, and next
steps for implementation
Additional Deliverables - Personas & User Research Data – If user research is conducted, this may include user
personas, feedback, or usability test results
Prototype / Design Mockups – If design flaws are identified, UX designers may create mockups or low-fidelity
prototypes to propose improvements.

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You’re all set—now let’s make it happen!
At this point, your team is ready to kick off a UX audit yourself!

However, even with the right framework in place, the actual outcome may not align with expectations due to Cognitive bias, Limited
hands-on experience or Resource Constraints.

That’s where bringing in a design expert makes a real difference. With fresh perspective and proven expertise, a partner can

Offer an external view to identify critical pain points and opportunities for improvement
Provide step-by-step recommendations tailored to business development roadmap and operational capacity
Share knowledge & best practices with in-house team to improve both ongoing and future design efforts.

Keep in mind: UX audits are not a one-time activity! As user expectations evolve & digital products scale, conducting regular
reviews is critical. This ensures your product remains user-centric, competitive, and aligned with changing market needs.

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Realise the full potential of your
product with a Design Audit.
Get in touch
Contributors

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who brought this ebook to life.

Leo Pham
Writer

Designers Pranitha Shetty

Ameet Palkar

Editors Shelta Phung

Radhika Kothari

Tanuja Pasumarthi

Garima Sharma

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