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Miller’s Law: A Key Principle for Designers
How Miller’s Law Simplifies Complex Information for Smarter Design
Simplicity and clarity often translate to better user experiences. But how do we measure what is “simple” and “clear” when dealing with complex information?
This is where Miller’s Law comes into play — a psychological principle that helps designers understand the limits of human cognition and design more effectively for it.
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What is Miller’s Law?
First coined by cognitive psychologist George A. Miller in his 1956 paper titled The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two, Miller’s Law states that the average person can hold 7 ± 2 pieces of information in their short-term memory at a time. This means most people can comfortably remember between five to nine items before their mental capacity becomes overloaded.
In design, this principle is a game-changer because it allows designers to respect cognitive limitations and create interfaces that are easy to navigate without overwhelming the user.
Why does it matter so much
Understanding the limits of human memory is critical when designing digital products, interfaces, or even content layouts. Whether you’re designing a website, app, or…