Cognitive Load

Cognitive load refers to a human’s ability to process information. When faced with a lot of choices, humans often get confused and are unable to make a decision. This causes frustration and leads to cognitive load.

Our brain is often burdened with the responsibility of processing and remembering things, but too much information can sometimes lead to an overload. In UX design, cognitive load refers to the mental effort that users require to process information and make decisions about a product or a service.

Types of Cognitive Load

There are three types of cognitive load that all UX designers should know about.

• Intrinsic - This refers to the inherent difficulty of the task or information and how it is presented.
• Extraneous - This refers to the various distractions that disrupt information processing.
• Germane - This refers to the effort required to create new information and find ways to improve its processing.

Ways to Reduce Cognitive Load in UX

Cognitive load can severely impact the user experience delivered by a product. Here are some ways to reduce it.

• Simplify the UI by removing unnecessary elements and minimizing distracting elements.
• Use common patterns and placements of elements that users are generally accustomed to.
• Present your information clearly and in smaller chunks for easier digestion and processing.
• Maintain consistency in design and avoid adding too many elements that surprise the user or break their concentration.
• Ensure a quick response time for the user to reduce their frustration and cognitive load when using your product.

Note: All information and/or data from external sources is believed to be accurate as of the date of publication.