If you look closely, the majority of apps and website designs have migrated to a minimal, intuitive design with the goal of being as user-friendly as possible. In today's digital landscape, users are bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information and choices.

Take the example of any subscription-based streaming service. We usually sit down to have food while watching a show, but by the time we decide what to watch, our meal is finished 😝. This overwhelming amount of is tackled by inculcating the following laws -

Hick's Law

The time and effort it takes to make a decision is directly proportional to the number of options; i.e. more options = longer harder to decide

As simple as it sounds, we see this law applicable all around us. Good menus have fewer items and a better visual representation of content, whereas mediocre menus have a bombardment of all items a restaurant can make. Hence usually, we all just end up ordering Kadhai Panner and Naan🙃. (Indian context - iykyk😋)

The same goes for any application. Would you use an application with just all links posted on the webpage?

Other Laws which work with Hick's Law

1. Miller's Law

2. Zeigarnik Effect

3. Law of Prägnanz

Miller's Law

An average person can only hold around 7 (plus or minus 2) items in their working memory at a time.

w.r.t - Hick's Law - suggests that limiting the number of choices presented to users to within range( 7 +- 2) can enhance decision-making and processing.

Zeigarnik Effect

The tendency to remember unfinished or interrupted tasks more than completed ones.

w.r.t - Hick's Law - suggests that it can be beneficial to minimize interruptions or distractions during decision-making processes.

Law of Prägnanz

One of the Gestalt Principles, states that people tend to perceive and organize stimuli in the simplest and most organized way possible.

w.r.t - Hick's Law - suggests that by providing a simple view (such as Hierarchy), the decision process is made easier.

Progressive Disclosure, Hierarchy and Personalization

To mitigate the impact of lots of information, designers employ techniques such as progressive disclosure and hierarchy of information.

Progressive disclosure involves presenting information or options in a staged manner, allowing users to focus on a smaller set of choices before revealing additional options.

Take the example of Instagram's menu.

There are a ton of options. But it progressively displays information, in a hierarchy to make it user-friendly. By prioritizing and organizing information hierarchically, designers guide users through a seamless decision-making process.

Another way we can tackle this problem is by Personalization. By doing this, a bucketload of options can be removed. Instead, the user can start with a smaller set of personalized recommendations which makes it easier for them to decide. This is one of the reasons why you see a - "For you" Page, "Trending" Page, etc.

By harmonizing minimalism in the UX of current apps and websites, designers can unlock the potential to deliver streamlined and intuitive experiences. As the digital realm continues to expand, prioritizing user experience through these principles will remain crucial in creating successful and engaging digital products.

Hope you liked the article 😊. Cheers 👋

~ Aryaman