UberEXAMPLE 01
Offer a simpler way to use the product
Uber’s Simple Mode reduces the home screen to clearer trip actions and larger controls. It gives people an alternative to a busier mix of services and suggestions.
Cognitive Load
Reduce the mental work around the task.
01 / UNDERSTAND
The idea
An interface consumes attention when people interpret labels, remember information and work out what happens next. Remove avoidable effort while preserving the information needed to make a sound decision.
Working memory has limits. A demanding game can be enjoyable because the player wants the challenge; an administrative form may place similar demands on someone with no interest in the complexity. The design question is which mental work serves the user’s goal, and which work merely comes from using the interface.
02 / RECOGNISE
See it in real products.
Examples of how the principle can appear in an interface.
NoteCircleEXAMPLE 02
Remove the blank-page decision
NoteCircle provides a sample task that can be saved into today’s list. A newcomer can learn the interaction before thinking of real content to enter.
03 / CONNECT
Why it matters.
Excess mental work can slow tasks, reduce input quality and increase frustration. A manageable challenge may still be enjoyable when it serves a goal the person values.
Possible influences to investigate, rather than guaranteed outcomes for every product.
04 / APPLY
Put it into practice.
- 01
Keep essential context visible
- 02
Use plain labels and meaningful groups
- 03
Ask for information only when needed
05 / EXPLORE WITH UPSLIDE
Apply it with Upslide.
Use a practical guide, read a deeper explanation, or examine a related Upslide project.
A Visual Flow Framework Before Redesigning
Choose the information people need for the next action, then layer the rest.
UX Audit Case Study: Warehouse Findings and Design Decisions
7 mins readFollow the evidence-to-decision ledger in a warehouse UX audit and distinguish observation from proof.
See how WMPS grouped stock movement, status and quantities for warehouse teams.
CONNECT THE IDEAS
Related principles
Keep exploring
