Cognitive load is the working memory effort demanded by your UI. Intrinsic load (the task itself) cannot be removed, but extraneous load from clutter can.
Intrinsic vs extraneous
Respect that some domains are complex. Remove decorative noise, duplicated nav, and vague copy that forces re-reading.
Chunking and sequencing
Split long tasks, show one decision cluster at a time, and prefetch information users need for the next step.
Signals, not decoration
Every visual element should earn its place: hierarchy, state, or guidance. If it is merely “nice”, it competes with the task.
Practices
- Progressive disclosure for advanced fields.
- Inline help near fields, not only in modals.
- Reduce simultaneous notifications.
Common pitfalls
- Long walls of text before the first action.
- Mixing unrelated tasks in one view.
- Animation that distracts during input.