Every interface asks something of the user's mind. Cognitive load is the measure of that demand, the total mental effort required to understand and operate an interface. John Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory, developed in the late 1980s and published systematically in 1988, identified three distinct types: intrinsic load (the inherent complexity of the task itself), extraneous load (complexity added by poor design), and germane load (the mental work of building understanding and skill). Designers cannot reduce intrinsic load without changing the task. They can and must reduce extraneous load.
Cognitive Load
How mental effort shapes what users can accomplish in your interface
A
Designers Academy
5 March 2025 · 5 min read
DesignPrinciples
In brief
Cognitive load is the total mental effort required to understand and operate an interface, and designers must reduce extraneous load to ensure users can accomplish tasks efficiently.
