Information overload in design
Simplify, declutter, then reevaluate
You probably have experienced visiting a website and feeling instantly exhausted. You’re bombarded with visual clutter: alerts, pop-ups, competing colors, dense layouts, auto-playing videos or audio. What’s meant to inform ends up overwhelming.
There’s a better approach: helping readers navigate the noise. Good design isn’t decoration. It’s a reading tool. It isn’t just aesthetics, it’s about helping readers find what they need without friction.
UX writer Kai Wong suggests performing a simple test: show someone your design for two seconds and ask, “What catches your attention first?” If they can’t answer or don’t pick the content element or CTA that you wanted to emphasize, they might be overwhelmed by your approach.
If that happens, you need to prioritize. Not everything can be the most important thing.
Clarity isn’t about reducing content, but about structuring it so readers can scan and absorb. And a solid content hierarchy helps: What’s the lead? Where does the eye go first? Where should it go next? Help them decide.
Clear structure leads to better engagement. Design must support your story, visually reinforcing key information and guiding users from start to finish.
Leave buffers and wide margins in your design. This so-called white space isn’t wasted space because breathing room between elements reduces mental load.
There’s an underlying geometry to user-friendly design: spacing, rhythm and repetition that calm rather than agitate.
Writers are part of this design equation (hence the term “content design”). They must understand not just what’s written, but also that content can be strategically placed on the page: subheads or visual elements (pull quotes, sidebars, infographics, etc.) help defuse information overload.
Avoid overwhelming your audience:
Use clear visual hierarchies to direct attention
Don’t treat every element as equally important
Let content dictate layout, not the other way around
Use white space strategically to reduce fatigue
Design for skimming as much as for reading
Bottom line: When everything demands attention, nothing stands out. Thoughtful, restrained design helps users focus, understand and engage without exhausting them. Both writers and designers should create content spaces that invite rather than overwhelm. Because good design reduces cognitive load and highlights a message.
That’s all for today!