cognitive-load-assessment

Name: cognitive-load-assessment
Author: Owl-Listener

82stars25forks

How to install cognitive-load-assessment?

owl-listener/inclusive-design-skills/cognitive-load-assessment

$npx -y skills add Owl-Listener/inclusive-design-skills --skill cognitive-load-assessment

Installs into the current project.

Summary

Assess and reduce cognitive load in interfaces, flows, and content. Use when designing or reviewing any multi-step process, complex form, dashboard, decision flow, or information-dense screen. Triggers on: cognitive load, too complex, overwhelmed, too many steps, decision fatigue

Files · 1

View on GitHub

SKILL.md

1	# Cognitive Load Assessment
2
3	Assess cognitive load across three dimensions and provide actionable
4	recommendations to reduce unnecessary burden on users.
5
6	## The Three Types of Cognitive Load
7
8	Intrinsic load — complexity inherent in the task itself.
9	A tax return is intrinsically complex. You cannot simplify the tax code.
10	Focus: break into manageable steps, provide context, explain terms.
11
12	Extraneous load — complexity added by the design, not the task.
13	Confusing navigation, unclear labels, inconsistent patterns, visual clutter.
14	Focus: eliminate ruthlessly. Every instance is a fixable design failure.
15
16	Germane load — effort invested in the actual task.
17	This is the load you WANT. The user engaging with their real goal.
18	Focus: maximise this by removing the other two.
19
20	## Assessment Framework
21
22	For each screen or step, evaluate:
23
24	\| Dimension \| Low (good) \| Medium (review) \| High (redesign) \|
25	\|-----------\|-----------\|-----------------\|-----------------\|
26	\| Decisions required \| 0–1 \| 2–3 \| 4+ \|
27	\| Items to remember \| None \| 1–2 \| 3+ \|
28	\| New concepts to learn \| None \| 1 \| 2+ \|
29	\| Steps to complete \| 1–2 \| 3–5 \| 6+ \|
30	\| Reading complexity \| Plain language \| Some jargon \| Dense/technical \|
31	\| Visual complexity \| Clean, focused \| Moderate \| Cluttered \|
32
33	If any dimension rates High, that screen needs redesign before launch.
34
35	## How to Assess
36
37	1. Walk through the flow as a user who is tired, stressed, and unfamiliar
38	2. At each screen, count: decisions, things to remember, new concepts
39	3. Note where you pause, re-read, or feel uncertain — those are load spikes
40	4. Map the load type: is the difficulty intrinsic or extraneous?
41	5. Recommend specific reductions for each extraneous load source
42
43	## Reduction Strategies
44
45	- Progressive disclosure: show only what the current step needs
46	- Smart defaults: pre-select the most common option
47	- Chunking: group into sets of 3–5 related items
48	- Recognition over recall: show options, don't make users remember
49	- Persistent context: show key selections throughout a flow
50	- One primary action per screen: de-emphasise secondary actions
51
52	## Output Format
53
54	Present the assessment as a screen-by-screen table showing load ratings,
55	followed by prioritised recommendations sorted by impact.

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cognitive-load-assessment

82stars25forks

View on GitHub

How to install cognitive-load-assessment?

owl-listener/inclusive-design-skills/cognitive-load-assessment

$npx -y skills add Owl-Listener/inclusive-design-skills --skill cognitive-load-assessment

Installs into the current project.

Summary

Files · 1

View on GitHub

SKILL.md

1	# Cognitive Load Assessment
2
3	Assess cognitive load across three dimensions and provide actionable
4	recommendations to reduce unnecessary burden on users.
5
6	## The Three Types of Cognitive Load
7
8	Intrinsic load — complexity inherent in the task itself.
9	A tax return is intrinsically complex. You cannot simplify the tax code.
10	Focus: break into manageable steps, provide context, explain terms.
11
12	Extraneous load — complexity added by the design, not the task.
13	Confusing navigation, unclear labels, inconsistent patterns, visual clutter.
14	Focus: eliminate ruthlessly. Every instance is a fixable design failure.
15
16	Germane load — effort invested in the actual task.
17	This is the load you WANT. The user engaging with their real goal.
18	Focus: maximise this by removing the other two.
19
20	## Assessment Framework
21
22	For each screen or step, evaluate:
23
24	\| Dimension \| Low (good) \| Medium (review) \| High (redesign) \|
25	\|-----------\|-----------\|-----------------\|-----------------\|
26	\| Decisions required \| 0–1 \| 2–3 \| 4+ \|
27	\| Items to remember \| None \| 1–2 \| 3+ \|
28	\| New concepts to learn \| None \| 1 \| 2+ \|
29	\| Steps to complete \| 1–2 \| 3–5 \| 6+ \|
30	\| Reading complexity \| Plain language \| Some jargon \| Dense/technical \|
31	\| Visual complexity \| Clean, focused \| Moderate \| Cluttered \|
32
33	If any dimension rates High, that screen needs redesign before launch.
34
35	## How to Assess
36
37	1. Walk through the flow as a user who is tired, stressed, and unfamiliar
38	2. At each screen, count: decisions, things to remember, new concepts
39	3. Note where you pause, re-read, or feel uncertain — those are load spikes
40	4. Map the load type: is the difficulty intrinsic or extraneous?
41	5. Recommend specific reductions for each extraneous load source
42
43	## Reduction Strategies
44
45	- Progressive disclosure: show only what the current step needs
46	- Smart defaults: pre-select the most common option
47	- Chunking: group into sets of 3–5 related items
48	- Recognition over recall: show options, don't make users remember
49	- Persistent context: show key selections throughout a flow
50	- One primary action per screen: de-emphasise secondary actions
51
52	## Output Format
53
54	Present the assessment as a screen-by-screen table showing load ratings,
55	followed by prioritised recommendations sorted by impact.

People who liked this also viewed

6 picks

Type