Mobile UX Design

Reducing Cognitive Overload for a better user experience

For centuries, designers have looked to simplify products, making them more efficient, thereby creating more value for their users. The goal of every designer should be to simplify the process that will lead the user to their end goal.

When I heard this information, I immediately thought of some questions. What is cognitive load? What are the cognitive load challenges? How can designers make screens less complex while reducing the users’ cognitive load?

Let’s dive in and answer some of these questions.

Cognitive Load refers to the amount of information a human brain can handle. Cognitive Overload occurs when the working memory receives more information than it can handle.

We as humans use our working memory to organize and manipulate information, making links to prior knowledge to help turn these ideas into long-term memory storage.

Three types of Cognitive Load:

1. Intrinsic load-The effort that one needs to put in to absorb information.
2. Extraneous load-Processing information that doesn’t help us understand the content we are trying to learn.
3. Germane load-Allows users to focus their attention on understanding and recalling the content being learned.

To maximize absorption of new information we need to focus on reducing the extraneous load, maximizing the germane load activities, and managing the intrinsic load.

Why is it important to reduce the cognitive load?

Human brains have limited processing power. We run out of batteries like the technology that we use every day. Whenever the amount of information we try to process exceeds our ability to handle it, our working memory suffers. This happens when a person is overloaded with irrelevant information.

This overload reduces the chances that our brains will be able to turn short-term memory into long-term memories. It will also cause a person to forget things and will require a great deal of mental energy to concentrate.

What are some cognitive load challenges?

1. Screen size-We see less content on a phone than on a laptop so we need to use more memory to remember what is not on the screen. This is especially difficult when reading something complex.
2. Interruptions-Being on a mobile device leads to many distractions because of the people and noise around us. This can cause loss of focus and reduced comprehension of the information in front of us.
3. Connectivity loss-Many times we are on mobile devices and there are network interruptions.
4. Split attention-In many instances smaller screens require us to manage many sources of information which takes away our attention from one screen to focus on another. This can cause a high cognitive load burden and performance is negatively affected.
5. Interaction cost-Smaller screens require more clicking, searching, and waiting which can lead to feelings of frustration.
6. Increased cognitive load-People typically use more mental effort when interacting with small devices. The more effort used on a screen the less room there is for processing and absorbing information.

What are some ways we can reduce cognitive overload?

1. Fewer choices-Giving users options are great but only in moderation.
2. Familiarity-We want to ensure that our design behaves in a way that users expect to reduce cognitive friction or frustration.
3. Avoid unnecessary steps-Keeping our designs minimalistic and include only necessary steps will help prevent cognitive overload.
4. Balance-Only showing necessary information and avoiding any irrelevant images and text will help users understand and process key information.
5. Structure-Chunking information makes it easier to digest. Sending users messages to keep them informed of the process will help minimize cognitive overload.

Now that we as designers are aware of what cognitive load is and how we can reduce it, we can minimize the effort it takes to use our designs. This will result in a better user experience and also help ensure that our mobile designs will be revisited.