Install
openclaw skills install @couriard/steve-krug-ux-auditPerform a UX audit on any website or web app using Steve Krug's proven methodology. Provide a URL or local path and get a structured usability review grounded in Krug's core principles, laws, and heuristics. Identifies issues from most critical to quick wins.
openclaw skills install @couriard/steve-krug-ux-auditThis skill applies Steve Krug's UX audit methodology — a proven approach to evaluating web usability and user-centered design. All core laws, heuristics, and frameworks referenced herein are drawn from Krug's established methodology.
Perform a practical usability audit of a website or web app using the principles from Steve Krug's Don't Make Me Think, Revisited (3rd Edition, 2014).
This skill evaluates real pages — via browser snapshots, screenshots, or provided URLs — against Krug's core laws, heuristics, and conventions. The output is an actionable audit report, not abstract theory.
Use the browser tool to navigate to the URL/path and take a snapshot + screenshot. If multiple pages are specified, capture each one. At minimum, always audit:
Imagine being dropped on this page blindfolded. Can you answer these instantly?
| Question | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| What site is this? | Site ID/logo — top-left, distinctive, recognizable at any size |
| What page am I on? | Page name — prominent, in the right place, matches what you clicked |
| What are the major sections? | Primary navigation — visible, consistent, well-labeled |
| What are my options at this level? | Local/secondary navigation — clear subsections |
| Where am I in the scheme of things? | "You are here" indicators — highlighted nav items, breadcrumbs |
| How can I search? | Search box — visible, uses standard pattern (box + button + "Search") |
Scoring: For each question, rate as ✅ Clear, ⚠️ Unclear, or ❌ Missing/Broken.
Scan the page for question marks — anything that makes users pause and wonder:
Standard: The page should be self-evident (no thought required) or at minimum self-explanatory (a tiny amount of thought). If neither, it fails this law.
Check all navigation paths and choices:
Evaluate text content:
Users scan, they don't read. Evaluate the page as a billboard going by at 60 mph:
| Principle | Check |
|---|---|
| Conventions | Does it follow standard web conventions for layout, navigation, and element appearance? |
| Visual hierarchy | Are important things more prominent? Are related things grouped? Is nesting clear? |
| Clearly defined areas | Can you play "$25,000 Pyramid" — point at areas and say what they are? |
| Obvious clickability | Can you instantly tell what's clickable and what's not? |
| Noise level | Is there shouting (everything competing)? Disorganization (no grid)? Clutter (too much stuff)? |
| Scannable text | Plenty of headings? Short paragraphs? Bullet lists? Key terms bolded? |
| Heading hierarchy | Obvious visual distinction between heading levels? Headings closer to their section than the previous one? |
The Big Bang Theory of Web Design — first impressions are critical:
Evaluate the page against the three facts of web use:
If reviewing mobile or responsive versions:
Krug's "low-hanging fruit" accessibility checks:
Structure the audit report as:
# Krug UX Audit: [Site Name]
**URL:** [url]
**Date:** [date]
**Pages reviewed:** [list]
## Executive Summary
[2-3 sentence overall assessment]
[Overall grade: A/B/C/D/F with brief justification]
## Trunk Test Results
[Table with ✅/⚠️/❌ for each question]
## Krug's Laws Assessment
### Law 1: Don't Make Me Think
[Findings with specific examples]
### Law 2: Mindless Choices
[Findings with specific examples]
### Law 3: Omit Needless Words
[Findings with specific examples]
## Billboard Design
[Findings organized by principle]
## Navigation
[Findings organized by element]
## Home Page
[Four Questions assessment + element review]
## Mobile/Responsive
[If applicable]
## Courtesy & Goodwill
[Drains and builders identified]
## Accessibility
[Quick check results]
## Top 5 Issues (Prioritized)
1. [Most critical — what to fix first]
2. ...
3. ...
4. ...
5. ...
## Quick Wins
[Things that can be fixed in under an hour]
## Recommendations
[Specific, actionable changes ordered by impact]
Use these Krug principles as anchoring references throughout: