| name | reducing-cognitive-load |
| description | Identify and eliminate unnecessary mental effort in UI content. Use when simplifying complex interfaces, improving task completion rates, or diagnosing user confusion. |
Reducing Cognitive Load
Quick start
Collect or infer:
- Screen or flow to analyze
- Primary user task and decision points
- Current content inventory (all visible text)
- User context (expertise level, task frequency, stress level)
Then produce output using TEMPLATES.md. Validate with RUBRIC.md.
Workflow
- Map all decision points user must navigate.
- Identify cognitive load sources: memory demands, ambiguity, unnecessary choices, hidden information.
- Classify each source by type: intrinsic (unavoidable complexity), extraneous (removable friction), germane (learning investment).
- Prioritize extraneous load for elimination.
- Apply reduction strategies: chunking, defaults, progressive disclosure, recognition over recall.
- Validate that reductions don't remove essential information.
- Run the rubric check. Revise until it passes.
Degrees of freedom
- Medium freedom: Load classification framework is fixed; specific reduction strategies may vary by context.
- Allowed variation: Reduction technique selection depends on screen type and user expertise.
References
