One of the most influential psychological theories in this field is Miller's Law. Postulated by psychologist George A. Miller in 1956, this law holds that human short-term memory can handle about seven items, plus or minus two. This principle, known as "the magic number seven, plus or minus two," has been fundamental to UX design, helping to structure information in a way that is easily processable and memorable by users.
Miller's Law focuses on the limited capacity of working memory, which is the brain's ability to hold and process a limited amount of information in a short period of time. Miller observed that exceeding this limit results in confusion and errors in information processing. The way the brain handles this limitation is by "chunking" - organizing information into meaningful chunks that are easier to remember and process (Career Foundry).
Applying Miller's Law in UX Design
1. Chunking: Chunking is a core strategy in UX design to manage netherlands telegram data limited working memory capacity. It consists of dividing information into smaller, more manageable chunks. For example, when designing login forms, input fields are limited to the most essential ones (username and password) to avoid overloading the user. Another clear example is the organization of navigation menus on websites, where elements are grouped into logical categories to facilitate navigation and reduce cognitive load.
2. Break Down Complex Tasks: For complex tasks, such as filling out a lengthy form or making an online purchase, breaking down the process into smaller, guided steps can significantly improve the user experience. This is known as “task breaking down” and helps users better handle information by not presenting it all at once.
3. Prioritise Content: It is essential to prioritise the most important information and present it prominently, while less crucial details can be revealed progressively through techniques such as progressive disclosure. This avoids overwhelming users with too much information at once and allows them to focus on the essentials at any given time.
4. Design Consistency: Maintaining consistent design patterns throughout the interface helps users quickly become familiar with the system and reduces cognitive load. Visual elements such as colors, fonts, and button styles should be uniform so that users don’t have to relearn how to interact with different parts of the system.