Cognitive Friction

Cognitive friction is any aspect of a user’s interaction with a product, platform, or system that causes confusion, dislike, or delay in performing a task. This can occur when a user’s expectations clash with the reality of how a product functions or when an interface lacks intuitive design, causing the user to question how to navigate or use it effectively. The consequences of cognitive friction can be significant, including lower user satisfaction, higher bounce rates, and reduced user engagement.

ArtVersion’s design team employs best practices in UI/UX design to identify and eliminate sources of cognitive friction, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable user experience. We start by deeply understanding the user’s needs, expectations, and behaviors through comprehensive user research. This helps us design interfaces that align with the user’s mental model, reducing the cognitive load required to interact with the product.

One key strategy we use to minimize cognitive friction is the application of common design patterns and conventions and UI affordances. By leveraging familiar visual cues and interaction patterns, we help users quickly understand how to navigate and operate the system without learning new methods. Consistency in design elements across different screens and features also plays a significant role in reducing cognitive friction, as it helps users build and apply knowledge as they navigate through the system.

Through these strategies, ArtVersion’s design team helps to reduce cognitive friction, enhancing user satisfaction, engagement, and ultimately, the success of the product.