Setting clear audit objectives

Clear objectives give direction to design audits. Like a compass pointing north, well-defined goals help teams stay focused on what matters most. They transform vague intentions like "improve the design" into specific, measurable targets.

Good audit objectives align with business goals while addressing specific design issues. They define what teams need to examine and what success looks like. Rather than broad goals like "improve consistency," effective objectives target specific areas: "identify component inconsistencies in the checkout flow and their impact on conversion." This clarity helps teams avoid scope creep and ensures findings drive meaningful improvements.

Setting measurable objectives also helps teams track progress and demonstrate value to stakeholders. When objectives connect design improvements to business metrics, they make the audit's impact clear and actionable.