Hick’s Law

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

Takeaways

  1. Minimize choices when response times are critical to decrease decision time.
  2. Break complex tasks into smaller steps in order to decrease cognitive load.
  3. Avoid overwhelming users by highlighting recommended options.
  4. Use progressive onboarding to minimize cognitive load for new users.
  5. Be careful not to simplify to the point of abstraction.