UX Audit for a Calendar App That Supports Work Life Balance

We ran a UX audit to check how easy the app is to use, find any trouble spots, and suggest practical ways to improve it. Our aim was to make sure users have a smooth, straightforward experience from the moment they start using the app through their daily tasks.

The product is functional, but it doesn’t feel delightful to use. We see competitors offering smoother, more polished experiences, and I want to close that gap so our product doesn’t just work, but stands out.

We tested the app by using it the way real users would. Rather than just looking at individual screens, we tried to complete everyday tasks like signing up, onboarding, creating events, managing contacts, and responding to notifications.

The process combined three layers:

• Scenario Testing

  We mapped out key user journeys (e.g., “I just signed up and want to sync my calendars” or “I need to quickly add an appointment”). Then we followed them step by step.

• Heuristic Evaluation

  At each stage, we compared the experience against usability best practices like clarity, consistency, feedback, and error prevention.

• Experience Logging

  We documented our reactions in real time — moments of hesitation, points where we felt lost, and steps that required extra effort.

Using both approaches helped us combine clear standards with personal observations, so our findings are detailed and truly reflect what users experience.

We started by looking at what it’s like for someone using the app for the first time. By not making any assumptions, we were able to spot missing guidance, such as tooltips or tutorials.

We created user scenarios, simple stories about what someone might try to do in the app. For example, a new user might want to sign up and sync calendars, or quickly set up an appointment to share with contacts.

Working through these scenarios allowed us to:

• Experience Real Workflows

  We tested complete end-to-end journeys rather than isolated screens, ensuring we saw how each step connected.

• Spot Friction in Context

  By living the journey, we caught issues like unclear calendar syncs or overly complicated event forms that might not stand out during a static review.

• Think Like Users

  Acting out real needs made it easier to notice where the app failed to meet expectations, such as missing invitations for unregistered contacts.

At every step, we checked the app against well-known usability guidelines. This helped us find design issues that aren’t just a matter of opinion.

The key principles we used included:

• Clarity

  Is the purpose of each element obvious? (For instance, icons in the contacts section were too ambiguous to be self-explanatory.)

• Consistency

  Are terms and actions predictable? (We found inconsistencies, like “appointment” vs. “event,” that could confuse users.)

• Feedback

  Does the system let users know what happened? (Calendar syncs provided no confirmation, leaving us uncertain about success.)

• Error Prevention

  Is it easy to avoid mistakes? (Hidden privacy settings risked users misconfiguring visibility without realizing it.)

Using these guidelines gave us a clear way to spot weaknesses and made our audit more organized.

The audit revealed significant usability, design, and technical issues across onboarding, event management, contacts, notifications, and system architecture.

While the app shows strong potential, it lacks clear onboarding, intuitive navigation, robust development practices, and strategic business alignment. Addressing these gaps is critical for improving user experience, system stability, and long-term viability.

We reviewed the app’s design, usability, and technical setup. The main problems affect how users get started, manage their schedules, and trust the system.

• Onboarding Missing

  No guidance for new users; calendar sync unclear; can’t add multiple calendars at sign-up.

• Cluttered Calendar & Poor Navigation

  Events look messy; hard to switch between views; no filter for managing multiple calendars.

• Complex Event Creation

  Forms too long and confusing; unclear terms; privacy settings weak; editing options limited.

• Weak Notifications

  No read/unread status; indicators too subtle; extra steps to accept events; no direct link to event.

• Technical Gaps

  Exposed API keys; no tests or CI/CD; outdated state management; weak validation and access control.

The audit shows that the app needs both quick wins for users and long-term structural changes. Below are the key areas to focus on:

• User Experience First

  Introduce onboarding flows, simplify navigation, and streamline event creation to reduce confusion and make the app feel intuitive.

• Stronger Communication

  Redesign notifications to be clearer, faster, and directly actionable so users never miss or mismanage events.

• Secure & Scalable Technology

  Protect sensitive data (API keys), add testing and CI/CD pipelines, improve code structure, and modernize state management for long-term reliability.

• Clear Strategy & Validation

  Define project goals, improve documentation, and validate the product idea against real market needs to ensure resources are invested wisely.

By addressing these issues step by step, the app can evolve from a confusing and fragile tool into a polished, secure, and user-friendly product. Prioritizing both user experience and technical stability will not only improve satisfaction but also strengthen the app’s position in a competitive market.