3.2 Hick's law

Graph showing Hick's Law: a curved red line rising steeply then flattening, illustrating that response time increases logarithmically as the number of options grows.

More choices slow users down, keep menus and options minimal.

The Principle: The time it takes to make a decision increases with the number and complexity of choices.

  • Minimize Options: Reduce cognitive load by offering fewer primary actions.
  • Categorize: Break complex tasks into smaller steps in order to decrease cognitive load.
  • Progressive Disclosure: Hide advanced features until they are needed to prevent overwhelming new users.
  • Onboarding: Simplify the first-time experience by focusing on one step at a time.