Critique Visual Hierarchy

What You Do

Critique Dimensions

Entry Point

• Is there a single dominant element, or does attention scatter?
• Does size, contrast, or position establish the entry point clearly?
• Does the entry point match the primary user goal for this screen?

Eye Flow

• Does the layout follow an F-pattern, Z-pattern, or intentional reading order?
• Are there dead ends, loops, or confusing jumps?
• Does flow lead naturally to the primary call-to-action?

Weight

• Are size differentials at least 1.5× between hierarchy levels?
• Is bold/heavy type used sparingly so it retains signal value?
• Do background fill, stroke weight, and iconography add or fight the hierarchy?

Emphasis

• Is there exactly one primary emphasis zone per view?
• Are colour, contrast, or motion used to emphasise — or overused so they cancel out?
• Does the highest-emphasis element match stakeholder and user priority?

Output Format

1. Observation — what you see (neutral, factual)
2. Problem — what is broken and why it matters
3. Fix — a specific, actionable change Rate each dimension:

   pass

   /

   minor issue

   /

   major issue

   .

Common Failure Patterns

• Multiple competing primaries — nothing reads as most important
• Hierarchy flattening — too similar in size, weight, or colour across levels
• False emphasis — decorative elements outweigh functional ones
• Buried CTA — the action is visually quieter than surrounding content