Making designs easy: Cognitive load and simple UX
In the world of designing stuff for people to use, making things easy is a big deal. One key player in this game is “cognitive load.” It’s all about how much brainpower it takes to understand and use something. This blog explores what cognitive load is, how it affects users, and ways to simplify designs for a smoother experience. 🌟
Understanding Cognitive Load
Cognitive load is like the effort your brain puts into understanding and doing things. In design, we want to make sure it’s not too hard for users. Here are the three types:
1. Intrinsic Load: The natural difficulty of a task or info
2. Extraneous Load: Unnecessary stuff that makes it harder
3. Germane Load: The good effort, like learning new things
Real-World Examples:
Let’s look at some real-life situations to see how cognitive load can impact us and what we can do about it.
1. Example: Booking a Flight Online ✈️
— Cognitive Load Challenge: Too many steps and confusing info
— Simplified Strategy: Make it all fit on one page, show only what’s needed step by step
2. Example: Mobile Banking App 📱💳
— Cognitive Load Challenge: Too many buttons and complicated words
— Simplified Strategy: Make it simple, use easy words, and show only the important stuff
Strategies for Simplifying Interfaces
Making things user-friendly doesn’t have to be hard. Here are some simple ideas:
1. Prioritize information 🔍
— Focus on what users really need
— Example: Google’s search page, it’s just a search bar
2. Progressive disclosure 🧙♂️✨
— Show things step by step, not all at once
— Example: Social media setups that guide you one step at a time
3. Consistent design patterns 🍏
— Keep things looking the same for a smooth experience
— Example: Apple’s phone apps all look similar
4. Clear and simple language 📎❌
— Use words everyone can understand
— Example: Dropbox uses simple words and clear messages
Conclusion
In the world of designing for people, keeping things simple is a big win. By understanding and tackling cognitive load with ideas like focusing on what users need, showing things step by step, keeping a consistent look, and using simple words, we make sure users enjoy what we create. 🌈
So, as we look to the future of digital stuff, let’s keep it simple and make sure everyone enjoys the dance between them and what we design. 🎨🚶♂️
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