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This blog will provide a heuristic evaluation of four information products, analysing the products’ design and usability in relation to Jakob Nielsen’s ten heuristic principles. The evaluation method involves using the set of usability principles defined by Nielsen. These are:

1. Visibility of system status: the system keeps the user informed about the system's status through timely feedback.
2. Match between system and the real world: the system uses words, phrases and concepts that the user will understand, and follows real-world conventions, presenting the information in a logical order.
3. User control and freedom: the user is able to customise the system and easily undo unwanted functions
4. Consistency and standards: the system follows platform conventions, and ensures all language and symbols used are consistent within the product.
5. Error prevention: the system is designed in such a way that errors are prevented, or users are are adequately warmed about system errors.
6. Recognition rather than recall: the user should not have to recall what symbols and words mean from page to page; the system should be easy to navigate.
7. Flexibility and efficiency of use: expert users are able to bypass or accelerate features designed to assist beginner users.   
8. Aesthetic and minimalist design: there is minimal to no excess information or dialogue.
9. Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors: error messages should be explained in laymen's terms, explain the problem and suggest a possible solution.
10. Help and documentation: there should always be some kind of documentation that users can consult if they are unable to use a facet of the system.

Because all information products serve different purposes and have different functionalities, not all the heuristics listed will be used to evaluate every product. Instead, each product will be evaluated on heuristics that are most relevant to the product.