Recipe

Recipe: UX audit from screenshots

Turn raw product screenshots into a structured, actionable UX audit in under 20 minutes. No live access needed.

Time

~18 min

Input

5–12 screenshots covering one flow

Output

Severity-ranked issue list with fix suggestions

1

Capture the flow

Screenshot every state: empty, loading, error, success, edge cases. Use a consistent viewport. Name files by step order.
2

Paste into a single canvas

Arrange screenshots left-to-right in Figma or Excalidraw. Add arrows between steps. This forces you to see the flow, not isolated frames.
3

Run the 4‑pass scan

  • Pass 1: Layout — alignment, spacing, visual hierarchy
  • Pass 2: Copy — clarity, tone, CTAs, error messages
  • Pass 3: Interaction — affordances, hover states, disabled states
  • Pass 4: Accessibility — contrast, labels, focus order guess
4

Log issues with severity

Use a simple table: screenshot ref, issue, severity (🔴🟡🟢), suggested fix. One row per issue. Be ruthlessly specific.
5

Write the summary

Top 3 fixes first. Then a “quick wins” section for things fixable in under 10 minutes. End with one systemic recommendation.

Pro tip

Record your screen while narrating the audit. A 5‑minute Loom is worth more than a 10‑page PDF. Stakeholders watch video.