Cognitive load theory was formalised by educational psychologist John Sweller in 1988, splitting load into intrinsic (the task's own difficulty), extraneous (unnecessary UI complexity), and germane (effort that genuinely aids understanding). In UX, the target for reduction is mostly extraneous load — noise unrelated to the task (redundant icons, inconsistent layout) eating into the brain's limited processing capacity.
Miller's Law (chunking), Hick's Law (fewer choices), and progressive disclosure are all concrete tactics for lowering cognitive load. The test isn't whether a screen *looks* complex — it's how much actually has to be processed.
Left has 16 equally emphasised icons and the load gauge swings into the red. Right groups just 5 clear options and the gauge stays low.
When to use
Once a screen crosses ~10 buttons or icons, suspect overload. Ask not "is this needed at all" but "is it needed right now."