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UX design principles aren't just abstract theory—they're the foundation of every interface decision you'll make and defend in this course. When you're asked to evaluate a design system, propose improvements, or justify your choices in an FRQ, you're being tested on your ability to connect specific design decisions to underlying cognitive and behavioral principles. These principles draw from psychology, human factors engineering, and interaction design research, and they'll appear across topics from prototyping to usability testing.
Don't just memorize what each principle says—understand why it works and when to apply it. The strongest exam responses demonstrate that you can identify which principle solves a particular user problem, compare trade-offs between competing approaches, and recognize when principles work together or create tension. Master the reasoning behind each principle, and you'll be ready for any scenario the exam throws at you.
The human brain has limited working memory. These principles work by minimizing the mental effort required to use an interface, freeing users to focus on their actual goals rather than figuring out how the system works.
Compare: Recognition Rather Than Recall vs. Consistency and Standards—both reduce cognitive load, but recognition focuses on what users see in the moment while consistency focuses on patterns users learn over time. FRQs often ask you to identify which principle addresses a specific usability problem.
Great interfaces make users feel capable and in command. These principles ensure the system serves the user rather than forcing users to adapt to system limitations.
Compare: Flexibility and Efficiency vs. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design—these can create tension. Adding shortcuts and customization options increases flexibility but risks cluttering the interface. Strong designs use progressive disclosure to balance both.
Users can't read the system's mind. These principles ensure continuous, clear communication between the interface and the user about what's happening, what's possible, and what just occurred.
Compare: Visibility of System Status vs. Feedback and Responsiveness—visibility is about ongoing system states (loading, processing, connected), while feedback is about responses to specific actions (button clicked, form submitted). Both are essential, but they address different moments in the interaction.
These principles ensure interfaces work for everyone while remaining visually effective. Good aesthetics and accessibility aren't competing goals—they reinforce each other.
Compare: Aesthetic and Minimalist Design vs. Accessibility—minimalism can inadvertently harm accessibility if it removes helpful labels or relies solely on color to convey meaning. The best designs achieve both by using clear visual hierarchy and multiple ways to communicate information.
| Concept | Best Examples |
|---|---|
| Cognitive Load Reduction | Consistency and Standards, Recognition Rather Than Recall, Hierarchy and Information Architecture |
| User Empowerment | User-Centered Design, Flexibility and Efficiency, Error Prevention and Recovery |
| System Communication | Visibility of System Status, Feedback and Responsiveness |
| Visual Effectiveness | Aesthetic and Minimalist Design |
| Universal Access | Accessibility and Inclusive Design |
| Expert Accommodation | Flexibility and Efficiency, Recognition Rather Than Recall |
| Error Handling | Error Prevention and Recovery, Visibility of System Status |
| Information Organization | Hierarchy and Information Architecture, Recognition Rather Than Recall |
Which two principles both aim to reduce cognitive load but address different aspects of user memory? Explain how they complement each other.
A user completes a purchase but sees no confirmation message and wonders if the order went through. Which principle was violated, and what specific design elements would fix this?
Compare and contrast Flexibility and Efficiency of Use with Aesthetic and Minimalist Design. When might these principles create design tension, and how would you resolve it?
An FRQ presents a form that allows users to enter invalid dates and only shows an error after submission. Identify the violated principle and propose two specific improvements based on UX best practices.
How does Accessibility and Inclusive Design relate to User-Centered Design? Could a product be user-centered but not accessible? Defend your answer with specific examples.