Miller's observation (often simplified as “7±2 chunks”) reminds us to group information into limited, meaningful units — not to slap seven arbitrary items everywhere.
Chunking
Combine related fields, segment long lists with headings, use cards for dashboards, and align numbers so scanning is vertical and fast.
Meaning over count
Three well-named groups beat nine micro-labels. The limit depends on familiarity: phone numbers chunk easily because the pattern is known.
Navigation depth
Broad shallow menus reduce recall of location; deep narrow trees increase clicks. Balance with clear IA and search.
Practices
- Limit primary nav items; overflow to “More”.
- Step labels in wizards (“Address”, “Payment”).
- Group settings under task-based headings.
Common pitfalls
- Long flat lists without grouping.
- Using magic numbers in copy (“Step 11 of 47”).
- Dashboards with 20 equally weighted KPI tiles.