Curious about cognitive load in UX design? Understand what it means, its types, and ways to minimize it. Also, learn about the benefits of reduced cognitive load for UX designers.
Do you get confused about what to watch with the numerous movie choices available on OTT platforms? Or find yourself getting overwhelmed by a fancy restaurant menu with way too many food options? These situations have been widely researched, revealing that too many options make it harder to make a choice. This state of mind is often referred to as decision paralysis or choice overload. When memory usage on your computer exceeds its capacity, the system starts to slow down. Cognitive load is the equivalent of this phenomenon when your brain tries to learn new concepts.Â
In this guide, we will understand what exactly is cognitive load, its types, and ways to minimize and control it. We’ll also learn about the benefits of reduced cognitive load and explore what makes it a crucial component of good UX design.
Here’s a clickable list of everything that we’ll be covering in this article!
Contents:
- What Is Cognitive Load in UX Design?
- Types of Cognitive Load
- Ways to Minimise Cognitive Load
- What Are the Benefits of Reduced Cognitive Load in UX Design?
- Conclusion
What Is Cognitive Load in UX Design?
Humans have a limited capacity to process information in one go. According to psychologists, most people can retain only an average of five to seven pieces of information in their minds, also known as the working memory. When interfaces have too many options, it pushes the brain to allocate a portion of this limited memory to each one of them. Upon reaching the limit, it becomes challenging to remember all the information that has been received at a certain point in time. Chances are that some of the options will be forgotten, creating frustration. This load on the brain is known as cognitive load.
Cognitive load in UX design is the mental effort required for users to process information, reason, and make decisions about a product or a service. When we learn new things, we burden our brains with picking up and memorizing new information. If the amount of information expected to be processed exceeds the user’s ability to process it, naturally the performance drops. Psychologists often describe cognitive load as a theory that aims to understand how the mental effort required to learn tasks can hinder a person's ability to process new information and create long-term memories. Designers can apply cognitive load theory principles to create interfaces and user experiences that are simple and easy to navigate for users.
Types of Cognitive Load
By understanding and managing the different types of cognitive load, you can make learning experiences more efficient. Let’s take a look at each of them individually.Â
Intrinsic Cognitive Load
Intrinsic cognitive load is associated with a specific task or subject matter. It’s determined by the complexity of the information being processed regardless of the users’ prior knowledge or experience. While this load cannot be reduced without changing the nature of the task, certain practices can help minimize its intensity.Â
- You can simplify complex tasks by breaking them into smaller, more manageable parts. But while making the task easier, ensure the original meaning remains unchanged.Â
- You can use interactive resources to build up basic knowledge before tackling difficult concepts. For instance, simulations that show the learner how to apply a skill instead of telling them how it’s done.
- You can display portions of your concept in a sequence to reduce the intrinsic load of the entire content. However, this may not be effective for all types of content.Â
Extrinsic Cognitive Load
Extrinsic load is the unnecessary cognitive burden caused by poor instructional designs, explanations, diagrams, charts, or presentations. Although helpful, they may not be essential for learning and can sometimes interfere with understanding. This type of load is the most actionable type of cognitive load and can be minimized through clear, concise instructions, well-organized materials, and eliminating irrelevant information. For instance, an online learning platform with a complicated interface, excessive text, unnecessary links, images, and numerous buttons and menus can distract students. The extra effort required to navigate the platform increases the extrinsic cognitive load, making it harder for students to focus on understanding the actual material.
Germane Cognitive Load
The effort required to process information, create schemas, and convert knowledge into long-term memory is known as germane cognitive load. Unlike intrinsic and extrinsic load, this load is essential for learning and should be optimized rather than reduced. While it is important to reduce extraneous load, increasing the germane load leads to better learning outcomes. Below are a few techniques that can help increase germane load:
Elaboration—Encourage learners to expand on new information by linking it to prior knowledge or real-world examples.
Self-explanation—Ask learners to explain concepts in their own words, which deepens understanding.
Varied practice—Provide diverse examples and practice scenarios to help learners apply their knowledge in different contexts.
Ways to Minimise Cognitive Load in UX Design
Now that we understand the various types of cognitive load, let’s explore ways to minimize it. Here are some ways in which you can make effective UX design decisions:
1. Incorporate Familiar Visual Cues
Familiar visual cues are crucial in UX design as they help users quickly recognize, understand, and navigate interfaces. Icons, colors, and shapes that are commonly associated with certain actions or information reduce the mental effort required to learn new designs. For instance, using a magnifying glass icon for search, employing a shopping cart icon for e-commerce, or including standard menu layouts (File, Edit, View, and so on) allows users to rely on prior knowledge, making the interfaces user-friendly. By incorporating these cues, UX design can create more efficient and effective user experiences with minimal cognitive load.
2. Leverage Common Patterns
In UX design, common design patterns create consistency across different applications and websites. This reduces the cognitive load and allows users to apply learned behaviors, enabling them to get closer to their goals. For instance, placing navigation menus at the top or left side or positioning a logo in the top-left corner. By adhering to these patterns, users can focus on content rather than figuring out how to use the interface. Implementing these established patterns in UX design streamlines user interaction, making interfaces more intuitive and user-friendly.
3. Avoid Irrelevant ElementsÂ
Reducing cognitive load in UX design is of great importance for effective and user-friendly interfaces. Any element on a page or screen that doesn’t help the user achieve their goal interrupts the process and adds to cognitive load. Avoid unnecessary elements like intense color combinations, symbols, redundant navigation options, intricate details, or layouts that don’t add value to the product’s functionality and help users focus on what’s important. Every component should have a clear purpose and must not interfere with the user’s ability to process information effectively.
Designing with a minimalist mindset reduces the cognitive load, helps create visually pleasing interfaces, and promotes user engagement. All micro-interactions in your design should support users and not cause sensory and cognitive overload.
4. Reduce Choices
As we mentioned at the start, in UX design, offering too many choices can overwhelm users and lead to design paralysis. Simplifying options and limiting choices can make it easier for them to make decisions. For instance, limiting menu items to relevant options or using smart defaults can help users quickly find what they need. By carefully curating the available options, UX design can reduce the mental effort required to process information and make decisions.Â
5. Eliminate Non-Essential Tasks
Every task a user must complete adds to the cognitive load in UX design. Streamlining processes by removing irrelevant tasks can significantly improve the user experience. Irrelevant tasks distract users and increase the cognitive load by requiring them to divide their attention. Ensuring that every step in a process is necessary and directly related to the user's objectives helps maintain focus and efficiency. For instance, auto-filling forms or removing confirmation messages for low-risk actions can simplify the process. The goal is to streamline user interactions, allowing them to achieve their goals efficiently and with minimal cognitive strain.
6. Present Choices As a Group
In UX design, when choices are split into separate groups and hidden, users often mistake the visible options as the only ones available. This can prevent them from finding additional choices and make it harder to decide because they aren't aware of all the alternatives. To reduce cognitive load, it's best to display all choices together. This method reduces the cognitive load by breaking down information into manageable chunks, enhancing the user’s ability to navigate complex interfaces. For instance, organizing menu items into vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and dessert categories or using tabs to separate different types of information on a website. By making all options visible and clearly categorized, the UX design can improve user interactions and overall satisfaction.
7. Aim For ReadabilityÂ
In UX design, clear and good readability reduces the cognitive effort required to process text and makes the interface more accessible and user-friendly. Avoid jargon and use straightforward language to help users understand the intent without additional cognitive strain. For instance, use legible fonts and appropriate font sizes, and maintain sufficient contrast between text and background so that users can easily comprehend the information. Also, consider breaking up blocks of text with headings and white space and use bullet points for easy scanning. These practices in UX design ensure that users can quickly and effortlessly process information.Â
What Are the Benefits of Reduced Cognitive Load in UX Design?
Every mental process imposes some cognitive load because it demands energy and effort. High cognitive load can interfere with thought processes, causing frustration, dissatisfaction, and abandonment of products. UX design aims to create products that minimize this load and offer meaningful and relevant user experiences.
Below are several benefits of reduced cognitive load that help UX designers create superior interfaces:Â
1. Improved User Experience
Simplified navigation helps users locate information quickly without feeling lost. Think clear menus, intuitive icons, and easy-to-understand layouts. It also helps to focus on key elements and important tasks without unnecessary distractions. Such clarity ensures that users can accomplish their goals more efficiently.
2. Better EngagementÂ
When users don’t have to deal with cluttered designs, they’re more likely to spend time on a platform to explore products, content, and other features that interest them. Making the interface more user-friendly with interactive elements leads to longer user sessions and higher interaction rates.
3. Enhanced Accessibility
Minimalist designs with clear typography, ample spacing, and high-contrast elements improve readability and usability for all users, including those with visual impairments. Reducing complexity makes the platform more accessible to users of all ages and abilities, ensuring a wider audience can use it effectively.
4. Reduced Error Rates
Simple and user-friendly designs minimize the risk of errors by providing reduced ambiguity and clear guidance. By preventing irrelevant steps and simplifying interactions, users are less likely to make mistakes, leading to a comfortable and more reliable experience.
5. Better Retention
Users have a higher probability of remembering and returning to a platform that offers a clear and concise design. Such designs elevate brand loyalty and guarantee repeat visits. A well-organized and easy-to-understand interface leaves a lasting impression, encouraging users to come back.
6. Higher Satisfaction
Users appreciate designs that allow them to complete tasks easily and quickly without any interruption. A user-centric design demonstrates a deep understanding of user needs and preferences, leading to higher satisfaction levels and positive feedback.Â
7. Informed Decision-Making
A mind unburdened of excessive cognitive load can more easily engage in critical thinking and rational analysis. This allows for a more thorough consideration of options, potential outcomes, and long-term consequences. It also reduces the likelihood of making impulsive decisions based on emotion or incomplete information.Â
Conclusion
We hope that through this article, we’ve helped you uncover the importance of cognitive load in UX design and its profound impact on design outcomes. Increased cognitive load makes it harder for your audience to comprehend your message. Therefore, UX designers must ensure users experience minimum cognitive load by implementing principles that enhance the functionality of interfaces and also contribute to a more satisfying interaction.Â
If you’re interested in learning more about UX design and cognitive load, head over to our blog for more articles. Also, consider going through the following resources.Â
- Complete Guide to High-Fidelity Wireframes (With Examples)
- 5 Examples of User Personas To Inspire the UX Designer in You
- Holistic Guide to Low-Fidelity Wireframes (With Templates)
Alternatively, you can also take a look at this UX Project by AND learner Jaazbia Khan for practical insight into the field and best practices for enhancing the user experience.Â
Next Steps
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about cognitive load in UX design—its meaning, significance, and how to reduce it. Now, you are better equipped to minimize cognitive load in your designs.
For further information, here are some additional resources you can refer to:
- Watch this session by Shiva Viswanathan, Design Head of Ogilvy Pennywise, and Naman Singh, Product Experience Designer at RED.
- Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of our courses.
- Pursue our UI UX Design courses - all courses are taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts, and some even offer a Job Guarantee.
- Take advantage of our scholarship and funding options to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.
Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.
