In 1956, cognitive psychologist George A. Miller proposed something revolutionary: the average person can hold 7±2 items in their working memory at once. Known as Miller’s Law, this principle has become a foundational guideline in both psychology and user experience design.
But what does it mean for digital products?
What is Miller’s Law?
Miller’s Law suggests that users can process and remember only 5 to 9 chunks of information at a time. Go beyond this limit, and cognitive overload kicks in—causing confusion, decision fatigue, or abandonment.
In the context of UI/UX, this means we must design with memory limitations in mind.
Applying Miller’s Law in UX Design
1. Limit Menu Items
Avoid overwhelming users with complex nav bars. Keep top-level menu items under 7. Use categories or submenus for the rest.
✅ Good: Home, About, Services, Blog, Contact
❌ Bad: Home, About, Services, Portfolio, Case Studies, Careers, Blog, Pricing, FAQ, Contact
2. Chunk Information
Break content into digestible groups. For example, instead of listing 10 features in a single paragraph, group them by category (e.g., Performance, Security, Collaboration).
3. Minimalist Forms
Don’t make users remember 10 input fields at once. Use progressive disclosure or multistep forms to reduce memory load.
4. Dashboard Design
On dashboards, highlight only the most important KPIs. Allow users to drill down for more detail rather than showing everything at once.
Real-World Example: iPhone Settings
Ever notice how Apple categorizes settings like Notifications, Sounds, and Screen Time into grouped categories? That’s Miller’s Law in action. You see only a few choices at each level, keeping navigation intuitive and low-stress.
Final Thought
Miller’s Law reminds us that simplicity isn’t just aesthetic—it’s cognitive. By respecting the limits of human memory, we create interfaces that are easier to navigate, remember, and trust.
Design less. Guide more.
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