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6 ways to improve the user experience by avoiding cognitive overload

Discover simple fixes that you can implement today

When it comes to UX (User Experience) design, how do you ensure the user doesn’t feel overwhelmed while interacting with your website?

Keep reading to know more about the best practices.

1 Redundant actions

  • More actions mean more effort/thought which leads to frustration
  • List all the steps to complete a task and remove redundancies

2 Too many options

  • Group multiple options by creating parent categories
  • Reduce on-screen options through hidden menus/ pullouts

3 Overstimulation

  • Visual clutter can distract the user from completing a task
  • Use a smart mix of content to achieve harmony and symmetry

4 Information overload

  • Organize content in easy-to-consume chunks (short paragraphs)
  • Convert long-winded form fields into multi-step forms

5 Ambiguous interface

  • Use universal visual cues or patterns that users are familiar with
  • Stick to commonly-used labels, include narration where required

6 Inconsistent presentation

  • Follow a style guide or brand guidelines throughout the website
  • Check for grammatical errors, usage that is inconsistent with the user’s knowledge

A few best practices to improve website navigation

  • Plan your information architecture keeping the target audience in mind
  • Combine pages and menu items where required to remove redundancy
  • Draw attention to specific items by varying size, color, or using animation
  • Ensure every page is self-explanatory, as users need not land on the homepage first

Our
handpicked quote

If you can’t make something self-evident, you at least need to make it self-explanatory.

Steve Krug

Author of “Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability"

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