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Miller's Law in Simple Terms
Miller's Law in Simple Terms
Miller's Law tells us that "We have limited working memory capacity." Think of working memory as your brain’s RAM—it processes and manages the information we encounter and as the amount of stimuli in our enviroment grows the load on our working memory increases as well.
Practical Applications of Miller's Law in UX Design
Practical Applications of Miller's Law in UX Design
1. Chunking
1. Chunking
Chunking reduces cognitive load by grouping smaller units of information into larger, familiar chunks, enhancing recall and freeing up memory capacity. In UX, this means grouping and modular design.
Example: Remembering phone numbers in chunks, like (123) 456-7890, rather than as a string of 10 digits. Also we can spot chunking being used in newspapers for a long time now.
2. Progressive Disclosure
2. Progressive Disclosure
Don't bombard users with information all at once. Consider forms and FAQs, reveal information gradually based on user actions. This reduces overwhelm and improves user experience.
Example: Check out the sign-in process I redesigned in this case study.
3. Feedback & Confirmation
3. Feedback & Confirmation
Providing immediate, clear, and actionable feedback reduces uncertainty and helps users navigate interfaces confidently. After all confidence is everything and uncertainty adds to cognitive load.
Example: Spotify’s song selection feedback, where clicking on a song immediately updates the interface to show it's now playing, confirming the user’s action.
4. Familarity & Consistancy
4. Familarity & Consistancy
Stick to familiar design patterns. Innovation is great, but consistency is key for user comfort and confidence. Don't waste your creativity where it creates chaos and confusion.
Example: Consistancy is basically the whole reason behind developing design systems and philosophy, consider IBM's design philosophy.
5. Reduce Unnecessary Elements
5. Reduce Unnecessary Elements
Avoid visual clutter. UI elements are not decoration, they serve a purpose and and take up memory space. Remember white space is your friend, white space is good!
Example: Apple's website, which uses plenty of white space to highlight products effectively.
6. Group & Minimize Choices
6. Group & Minimize Choices
Too many options can lead to decision paralysis. Group and limit choices to make decision-making easier. You can even break it down to multiple steps.
Example: Netflix categories that display a limited number of options per row.
7. Text Uncluttring
7. Text Uncluttring
Use proper typography and white space to enhance readability. Employ subheadings and short paragraphs for long pages. Remember, the easier the text is to read, the lower the cognitive load.
Warning: Avoid over-shortening texts to the point of vagueness.
Example: This goes from good UX writing to using proper typography and line width.
8. Use of Icons
8. Use of Icons
Using only icons means asking people to remember what they mean. Combine icons with text labels to clarify their function. If something is very well-known go ahead and use the icon alone but don't make a habit of it.
Example: Papara use of icons with titles in their navigation bar, ensuring users understand each icon’s function without needing to guess.
9. Break Complex Tasks into Smaller Ones
9. Break Complex Tasks into Smaller Ones
The last tip is to break complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Unfinished tasks linger in our working memory -also known as Zeigarnik Effect, creating mental strain. By segmenting a big task into bite-sized steps, we help users complete tasks more efficiently, freeing up cognitive resources for other information. People don't mind clicking a few extra times if it makes the process smoother and more rewarding.
Example: Intuit TurboTax uses this concept to make tax filling process easier.
References:
References:
Jon Yablonski . Laws of UX 2nd ed. (2024). O’Reilly Media
Thalmann, Mirko; Souza, Alessandra S; Oberauer, Klaus (2019). How does chunking help working memory? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 45(1):37-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/xlm0000578
Zeigarnik, B. (1938). On finished and unfinished tasks. In W. D. Ellis (Ed.), A source book of Gestalt psychology (pp. 300–314). Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company. https://doi.org/10.1037/11496-025
While you're here, don’t miss the "Perception and Memory in HCI and UX" course offered by the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF) . Get two free months of membership through this link.
Case-studies related to this article:
Case-studies related to this article:
Our school bus solution delivers peace of mind for parents and schools. Real-time tracking eases worries about missed pickups, while improved driver monitoring ensures safe rides, ultimately freeing up valuable resources for schools.
I utilized Atention Insight plugin in this case study.
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