© 2025 by Svenja Kastner.
Heuristic Evaluation
UX & Product Design Case Study
Goals: Identify usability and accessibility problems and improve the experience for customers.
Client: Fern & Thistle
Role: UX/UI Designer, Front-End Developer
Date: October 2024
Location: Balclutha, New Zealand
Link: Fern & Thistle
Figma
WordPress
HTML
CSS
Header Text Issues
I resolved a text alignment issue in the website header where the text overlapped with the logo, improving overall readability. I also streamlined the navigation by renaming “Image Gallery” to simply “Gallery,” removing unnecessary words for better clarity. Throughout the process, I identified and fixed several usability and front-end issues that helped enhance the overall user experience.
Image Loading Issues
Some images on the site weren’t displaying properly, so I troubleshooted the issue and adjusted the CSS to ensure they loaded correctly. This fix created a smoother browsing experience and improved the website’s professional appearance.
Header Image Improvements
To improve the site’s first impression, I replaced a dark, low-visibility nighttime photo of bushes with a brighter daytime image showing the house in sunlight. This change made the homepage more inviting and better reflected the charm of the B&B.
Inconsistent Card Design
The layout included B&B facility cards with uneven heights, which made the design feel unbalanced. I standardized the card heights using CSS to create a more consistent and visually pleasing layout. This update aligned with Jakob Nielsen’s usability heuristics, particularly focusing on consistency and standards.