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UX Smells & Fixes

Like code smells reveal bad architecture, UX smells reveal usability problems. Diagnose issues in 2-5 minutes with symptoms, refactor recipes, and AI prompts.

12smells
7categories
12fixes

Based on usability smell research and Nielsen heuristics

Overloaded Screen

Declutter & Prioritize

Impacts: Retention, Task completion

EfficiencyDashboardSettings

Related Principles: Cognitive Load, Progressive Disclosure, Visual Hierarchy

Detection: 2-3 minutesView Recipe

Form Graveyard

Resurrect Your Forms

Impacts: Conversion, Completion rate

Error PreventionFormsOnboarding

Related Principles: Error Prevention, Progressive Disclosure, Serial Position Effect

Detection: 3-5 minutesView Recipe

Silent Errors

Make Errors Speak Up

Impacts: Task completion, Support tickets

FeedbackFormsActions

Related Principles: Visibility Of System Status Principle, Error Messages, Feedback Loops

Detection: 2-3 minutesView Recipe

Mystery Navigation

Clear the Navigation Fog

Impacts: Retention, Feature adoption

LearnabilityNavigationOnboarding

Related Principles: Recognition Over Recall, Wayfinding, Mental Models

Detection: 2-3 minutesView Recipe

Dead-End States

Build Escape Routes

Impacts: Retention, Task completion

FeedbackEmpty statesErrors

Related Principles: Error Recovery, Empty States, User Control Freedom

Detection: 2-3 minutesView Recipe

Click Cemetery

Streamline Click Paths

Impacts: Task completion, Time on-task

EfficiencySettingsDashboard

Related Principles: Efficiency Of Use, Flexibility, Shortcuts

Detection: 3-5 minutesView Recipe

Contrast Blindness

Boost Visibility

Impacts: Accessibility, Conversion

AccessibilityAll

Related Principles: Accessibility, Color Contrast, Visual Hierarchy

Detection: 2-3 minutesView Recipe

Inconsistent Actions

Unify the Experience

Impacts: Learnability, Task completion

ConsistencyAll

Related Principles: Consistency Standards, Mental Models, Jakobs Law

Detection: 3-5 minutesView Recipe

AI Gradient Cliché

Differentiate Your Brand

Impacts: Trust, Brand perception

AI AestheticLandingMarketing

Related Principles: Visual Hierarchy, Brand Consistency, Aesthetic Usability

Detection: 10 secondsView Recipe

AI Uniform Grid

Create Visual Hierarchy

Impacts: Engagement, Feature discovery

AI AestheticLandingFeatures

Related Principles: Visual Hierarchy, Serial Position Effect, Von Restorff Effect

Detection: 5 secondsView Recipe

AI Buzzword Copy

Write Specific Value

Impacts: Conversion, Comprehension

AI AestheticLandingMarketing

Related Principles: Clarity Principle, Specificity Over Abstraction, User Mental Models

Detection: 30 secondsView Recipe

Glassmorphism Abuse

Use Glass Strategically

Impacts: Readability, Performance, Accessibility

AI AestheticLandingDashboard

Related Principles: Contrast Accessibility, Performance Perception, Readability

Detection: 10 secondsView Recipe

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