reducing-cognitive-load

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

1. Map all decision points user must navigate.
2. Identify cognitive load sources: memory demands, ambiguity, unnecessary choices, hidden information.
3. Classify each source by type: intrinsic (unavoidable complexity), extraneous (removable friction), germane (learning investment).
4. Prioritize extraneous load for elimination.
5. Apply reduction strategies: chunking, defaults, progressive disclosure, recognition over recall.
6. Validate that reductions don't remove essential information.
7. 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

• Templates: TEMPLATES.md
• Rubric: RUBRIC.md
• Examples: EXAMPLES.md