Rethinking Usability Heuristics from a Feminist Perspective: A Call for Plural Practices in Human-Centered Design

Usability heuristics shape digital interactions, yet their assumed universality raises critical questions: whose standards define consistency in UX design, and whose perspectives remain excluded? When interfaces are designed to ‘match the real world,’ which world is being represented, and whose lived experiences are overlooked? This paper critically examines these foundational assumptions by applying a feminist perspective to key interaction design principles. Usability heuristics, particularly those established by Jakob Nielsen, have long guided UX design by prioritising principles such as simplicity, efficiency, and consistency. However, these heuristics assume a universal user whose needs align with dominant norms, marginalising diverse lived experiences. This paper challenges the presumed neutrality of usability heuristics by applying a feminist perspective, specifically drawing on feminist standpoint theory (Harding, 1986) and Donna Haraway’s concept of situated knowledge (1988). These theoretical frameworks critique the implicit biases in design standards and advocate for pluralistic, context-sensitive approaches that acknowledge systemic inequities embedded in digital systems. Through a feminist critical analysis, this study interrogates two core usability heuristics— “Consistency and standards” and “Match between the system and the real world”— demonstrating how their conventional interpretations reinforce exclusionary norms. We propose alternative definitions: adaptive consistency, which prioritises flexibility over rigid adherence to industry standards, and context-sensitive language, which emphasises inclusivity and accessibility rather than defaulting to dominant cultural conventions. These new conceptualisations challenge the hegemonic structures of UX design and advocate for a human-centered design approach that actively incorporates underrepresented perspectives to overcome the unjust epistemic vacuum they have always faced within historically white, Western-centric, and colonial foundations of design knowledge and user research. By bridging feminist theory with practical design principles, this research contributes to the growing discourse on feminist UX and interaction design. It calls for a paradigm shift in usability evaluation—one that moves beyond a singular, universal standard toward a pluralistic framework that reflects the complexities of human experience. The implications of this study extend to UX practitioners, researchers, and policymakers, urging a reconsideration of design ethics and the role of power in shaping digital interactions. This research lays the groundwork for future explorations of inclusive usability heuristics and the deeper integration of feminist perspectives in technology design, so that human-centered design fulfils its promise, not as a selective vision, but as a holistic recognition of humanity in all its diversity and depth.