Here's how you can effectively critique the user interface of a web application.

When I first checked out the web app, it loaded in a flash—instant good vibes. The design was sleek and professional, with a color scheme that felt just right, like it was made to please my eyes. Navigating around was a breeze; the menu was easy to find and use. I could immediately tell what the app was all about, which is always a win. The headings and buttons made it clear what to do next, almost like they were saying, "Click me!" There were a few small hiccups, like some buttons being a bit tiny and a couple of features that played a brief game of hide and seek. But overall, it was a smooth and enjoyable experience. My first impressions were positive, and I saw a few areas where a little tweak could make the app even better.

The first thing I notice on a web application is if I can quickly determine the purpose of the application without having to click any button. Then I notice if it properly guides me to the CTA in a subtle way or is it trying to force me to take me there.

The first thing I notice is how the first fold of the website is clean, concise and specific to the need. No boring popups or crowded information. The first fold should tell where i go. And that is available at the tip of your finger. I think it's like when you enter the mall, notice when there are a lot of things in the entrance it makes you overwhelmed. And you don't know where you should go. Instead of this, if there is a large open space clear sign and no body is interrupting you. Few sites like Khanacademy.com, apple.com, Huawei interfaces.

A step that I never miss before finishing off a UI; Crosscheck the layout with your sales funnels and user journeys. The Design process is long, and certain features and use cases can fall through the cracks. Go back, make sure that your wireframe layouts find the sweet spot between the user preferences and product KPI’s. Do your layouts allow for users to complete their goals faster? Does your layout support browsing habits? Do CTA’s actually get your users to act?

One thing I find very helpful when creating the navigation flow is to first think about the information architecture. One very helpful methodology is sitemapping, as it provides a more systematic view of the information and how it is organized throughout the application. Another helpful methodology is mapping the flows, which makes it easier to identify any navigation gaps.

You should not make complex navigation of the application, even if it is developed for a specific product. The purpose of the application is to facilitate the process of interaction between the user and the service. And very often these can be very short iterations that require understanding on an intuitive level. It is important to work out all the details - accessibility, readability, button sizes and even their location, because very often there is a situation where the second hand is busy and it is better that the user can perform all the basic operations and get the result easily, using only the thumb of his hand.

Consistency really has a key effect on the user experience. This is especially important if the application is being developed for a wide audience or is innovative in nature. Because the experience of first use, the user’s familiarity with the application (product) will affect whether the user decides to return in the future. To achieve a good result, it makes sense to implement a design system into the project. Design development often takes a long period of time, and a design system helps you stick to guidelines and maintain consistency.

Among other things, you need to understand that the application will be used on different devices, with different calibrations. At the early stages, without taking this factor into account, I was faced with a situation when I realized that on the customer’s device some elements of my design had a different shade of red. We resolved that situation. But it is important to understand that in addition to the UI, information must be accessible to a wide audience, and if, for example, the text is difficult to read, this is a problem. It becomes inaccessible to audiences with disabilities, this effect can be annoying or simply reduce the level of user confidence.

I've used Datadog RUM (Real User Monitoring) and tools like Hotjar for being able to see how actual users are using a product. Datadog RUM offers funnel visualizations which can be helpful for sampling various user journeys.