Understanding how the human mind processes and retains information can help UX designers create more intuitive, user-friendly experiences. When design choices align with how memory and cognition work, users can interact with digital products more efficiently. Here are eight practical tips that will help improve UX by leveraging cognitive psychology.

1. Reduce cognitive load with chunking

The brain struggles with excessive information at once. Breaking content into small, digestible chunks makes it easier to process. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and distinct sections to help users scan and retain content while grouping related elements together so users don’t feel overwhelmed by too much at once. This principle can apply to even the most minute details of your website. For example, breaking a long string of numbers into smaller groups (e.g., 555-678-9012 instead of 5556789012) makes it easier to recall. This is the same principle that we can see applied in credit cards as well.

2. Leverage the serial position effect

People tend to remember the first and last items in a list more than those in the middle. This psychological principle, known as the serial position effect, can be used to improve menu design, form layouts, and content organization. Place the most critical actions or information at the beginning or end of a list to ensure they are more likely to be remembered and acted upon.

3. Use progressive disclosure to enhance focus

Presenting too much at once can confuse users, and that is where progressive disclosure comes in. Progressive disclosure reveals information gradually, showing only what’s needed at each step. Forms, settings, and onboarding flow benefit from this approach as users stay engaged without feeling overloaded. For example, check out the onboarding flow shown below. It gradually introduces more questions as the user progresses to ensure that they aren’t overwhelmed by too much information at any point in time.

Source: Dribble

4. Recognition > Recall

Humans find it easier to recognize something they have seen before rather than recall it from memory. This is why interfaces that use familiar icons, auto-suggestions, and previous interactions are more user-friendly. For example, a shopping cart icon should always mean “cart”, and a magnifying glass should always indicate “search.”

5. Design for spatial memory

Through spatial memory, users tend to remember the physical location of elements on a screen. Therefore, keep consistent layouts across pages so users don’t have to relearn where key buttons, menus, or search functions are. Frequent changes can disrupt spatial memory and cause frustration and cognitive strain.

6. Reinforce learning with repetition

Repetition strengthens memory retention. If a crucial action or message needs to be remembered, reinforce it through repeated exposure. This can be done using onboarding tooltips, subtle reminders in the interface, or consistent placement of essential features. However, be careful to avoid excessive repetition that may feel intrusive or annoying. The below image showcases an example of how tooltips can be used to reinforce learning through repetition.

7. Apply Hick’s Law to streamline decision-making

Hick’s Law states that the more choices users face, the longer they take to decide. When too many options are presented simultaneously, users may experience choice paralysis, leading to frustration or abandonment. Therefore, limit options in navigation menus and calls-to-actions, while prioritizing essential choices to avoid overwhelming users with unnecessary complexity. For instance, in e-commerce platforms, presenting a few well-curated product recommendations/ best-selling products instead of an overwhelming catalog can lead to faster and more confident purchasing decisions.

Source: Dribble

8. Tap into the Von Restorff Effect for key elements

People remember elements that stand out. The Von Restorff Effect (or isolation effect) suggests that unique colors, bold typography, or distinct design patterns help users recall key information. This principle is particularly useful for CTAs, alerts, or promotional banners. For example, making a CTA button stand out with a contrasting color and generous white space can draw immediate attention, leading to higher engagement rates. This effect can be seen applied on our company website as well. As shown below, the bright yellow CTA pops out against the white background, attracting visitors’ attention.

Following these cognitive psychology-based tips will help you create interfaces that not only feel intuitive, but reduce frustration, and improve engagement. If you wish to collaborate with us to create interfaces that truly resonate with your users, reach out to us at hello@rootcode.studio.