UI/UX Design
Pairfect Design Studio
Pairfect Design Studio
Edison Sathiyaseelan
Content Head & UX UI Designer
Aug 5, 2025
The 10 Essential UX Laws You Need to Know
The 10 Essential UX Laws You Need to Know
A foundational knowledge of user experience (UX) is critical for producing intuitive and user-friendly digital products, and this blog outlines ten important UX laws, including Hick’s Law, Fitts’s Law, and the Law of Proximity that determines how users experience an interface.
User Experience (UX) design is much more than visuals because it incorporates behavior, cognition, and the ways that humans interact with digital devices. Effective UX is a way to help users achieve their goal while also creating an emotional bond with the product. Designers are able to use established principles, known as UX laws, in order to create user-centered experiences that feel intuitive when users are trying to perform certain actions.
UX laws originate from psychology, cognitive science, and behavioral studies and can be applied as a useful strategy to ground your UI UX design decisions through a foundation. These principles can be used to support any user interface design project whether you're creating a mobile app interface design, website interface design, or product page design. These ten UX principles are foundational for improving outcomes for users across platforms.
1. Hick’s Law – Reduce Variability in Decisions
What does it say:
The more choices you give, the longer it takes to decide.
Why is it Important:
On a sign up page design or a navigation bar in a mobile app UI design, offering too many options can delay user action or worse, lead to abandonment.
How to apply it:
Limit options on one screen
Use progressive disclosure
Group similar actions using information architecture
A key takeaway for every UX design course or UI UX design company is to always simplify for clarity.
2. Fitts’s Law – Size and Distance Matter
What it says:
Time to target is a function of size and distance.
Why it matters:
Tiny buttons in a chat UI or poorly placed calls-to-action hurt usability, especially on mobile design.
How to apply it:
Use large tappable areas for primary actions
Reduce the distance between related UI elements
Eliminate clutter in app user interface design
3. Jakob’s Law – Familiarity Wins
What it says:
Users expect your app interface design to behave like others they already know.
Why it matters:
Consistency breeds usability. Innovation is great, but user interface user experience patterns are ingrained.
How to apply it:
Use common UI components (search icon, hamburger menu)
Follow design principles taught in any top UX course
Only innovate when it clearly improves the user experience
4. Law of Proximity – Group Similar Items
What it says:
Objects placed near each other are perceived as a group.
Why it matters:
In wireframe design or when creating forms design, proximity helps with information hierarchy.
How to use it:
Align labels closely with inputs
Use spacing as a UX design tool
Group features in website flows logically
5. Miller’s Law – Limit Working Memory
What it says:
Humans can hold 7±2 items in memory at once.
Why it matters:
On a product page design or onboarding screen, less is more.
How to use it:
Chunk content into card UI design
Use bullet points in mobile app design
Focus on reducing cognitive load
If you’re enrolled in a UI UX design course online, this will be one of your first lessons.
6. Tesler's Law – You Can Only Transfer Complexity
What it says:
Complexity in any system must live somewhere.
Why it matters:
Great user interface design hides complexity behind automation or thoughtful defaults.
How to apply it:
Provide smart defaults
Automate where possible
Show advanced settings only when needed
A must-learn if you're in UI UX classes or learning interaction design.
7. Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) – Focus on the Vital Few
What it says:
80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
Why it matters:
Only a few UI elements or actions drive the majority of usage in most applications.
How to apply it:
Prioritize core features in your application interface design
De-emphasize low-use features
Emphasize the most used areas in mobile app UI design
8. Aesthetic Usability Effect – Beautiful = Usable
What it says:
Attractive things are perceived to be more usable.
Why it matters:
Even if a bad design is functional, users will perceive it negatively. A good user interface builds trust and improves engagement.
How to apply it:
Follow a design system
Keep your UI design website clean and readable
Use well-matched fonts, spacing, and color schemes
Many great UI websites leverage this law brilliantly.
9. Serial Position Effect – First & Last Are Memorable
What it says:
Items at the start or end of a list are more likely to be remembered.
Why it matters:
This impacts user journeys, feature prioritization, and even form UI design.
How to apply it:
Place high-value features first or last
Optimize headers and footers
Use this rule in onboarding flows
10. Peak End Rule – Moments > Averages
What it says:
Users remember the best and last parts of an experience.
Why it matters:
That delightful animation at the end of a checkout flow or an easy final screen can define the whole experience.
How to apply it:
Add micro-interactions during key actions
Ensure the final moments are smooth
Avoid errors especially at the end
A key principle taught in user experience design courses and UX design classes.
Why These Laws Are Important?
Implementing the laws of UX will change the way you design and think about products.
Benefits include:
Clarifying the UX design process
Creating more human-centered mobile interface design
Supporting teamwork across disciplines
Enabling better usability testing and user research
These are not rigid rules, they are flexible foundations. Combined with testing and iteration, they guide UI UX designers toward better outcomes.
Final Thoughts: Design with Psychology
UX design isn’t just about pleasing looks, it's about function, empathy, and psychology. These 10 UX laws provide a foundation for any UX and UI designers working in today’s fast-paced digital environment. Whether you're building a new app UI, a software wireframe, or a responsive web UI design, these principles should guide your decisions.
At Pairfect Design Studio, we believe that great design begins with human understanding. That’s why we embed the UX design principles and UI principles into every touchpoint. Our work is grounded in user experience design tools, UI UX designer tools, and a keen sense of what makes a product feel intuitive and joyful.
If you're looking to learn design, consider enrolling in a UI UX online course, exploring tools for wireframes website creation, or diving deeper into Google UX Design Certificate programs. This ongoing learning helps teams craft meaningful, impactful designs that solve real-world problems.
Design not just to impress - design to connect.
Design not just for users - but with users in mind.
Let’s Connect & Create Something Beautiful!
Reach out to us today and let’s discuss your needs.
Let’s Connect & Create Something Beautiful!
Reach out to us today and let’s discuss your needs.
Let’s Connect & Create Something Beautiful!
Reach out to us today and let’s discuss your needs.
A foundational knowledge of user experience (UX) is critical for producing intuitive and user-friendly digital products, and this blog outlines ten important UX laws, including Hick’s Law, Fitts’s Law, and the Law of Proximity that determines how users experience an interface.
Edison Sathiyaseelan
Content Head & UX UI Designer
Aug 5, 2025
The 10 Essential UX Laws You Need to Know
User Experience (UX) design is much more than visuals because it incorporates behavior, cognition, and the ways that humans interact with digital devices. Effective UX is a way to help users achieve their goal while also creating an emotional bond with the product. Designers are able to use established principles, known as UX laws, in order to create user-centered experiences that feel intuitive when users are trying to perform certain actions.
UX laws originate from psychology, cognitive science, and behavioral studies and can be applied as a useful strategy to ground your UI UX design decisions through a foundation. These principles can be used to support any user interface design project whether you're creating a mobile app interface design, website interface design, or product page design. These ten UX principles are foundational for improving outcomes for users across platforms.
1. Hick’s Law – Reduce Variability in Decisions
What does it say:
The more choices you give, the longer it takes to decide.
Why is it Important:
On a sign up page design or a navigation bar in a mobile app UI design, offering too many options can delay user action or worse, lead to abandonment.
How to apply it:
Limit options on one screen
Use progressive disclosure
Group similar actions using information architecture
A key takeaway for every UX design course or UI UX design company is to always simplify for clarity.
2. Fitts’s Law – Size and Distance Matter
What it says:
Time to target is a function of size and distance.
Why it matters:
Tiny buttons in a chat UI or poorly placed calls-to-action hurt usability, especially on mobile design.
How to apply it:
Use large tappable areas for primary actions
Reduce the distance between related UI elements
Eliminate clutter in app user interface design
3. Jakob’s Law – Familiarity Wins
What it says:
Users expect your app interface design to behave like others they already know.
Why it matters:
Consistency breeds usability. Innovation is great, but user interface user experience patterns are ingrained.
How to apply it:
Use common UI components (search icon, hamburger menu)
Follow design principles taught in any top UX course
Only innovate when it clearly improves the user experience
4. Law of Proximity – Group Similar Items
What it says:
Objects placed near each other are perceived as a group.
Why it matters:
In wireframe design or when creating forms design, proximity helps with information hierarchy.
How to use it:
Align labels closely with inputs
Use spacing as a UX design tool
Group features in website flows logically
5. Miller’s Law – Limit Working Memory
What it says:
Humans can hold 7±2 items in memory at once.
Why it matters:
On a product page design or onboarding screen, less is more.
How to use it:
Chunk content into card UI design
Use bullet points in mobile app design
Focus on reducing cognitive load
If you’re enrolled in a UI UX design course online, this will be one of your first lessons.
6. Tesler's Law – You Can Only Transfer Complexity
What it says:
Complexity in any system must live somewhere.
Why it matters:
Great user interface design hides complexity behind automation or thoughtful defaults.
How to apply it:
Provide smart defaults
Automate where possible
Show advanced settings only when needed
A must-learn if you're in UI UX classes or learning interaction design.
7. Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) – Focus on the Vital Few
What it says:
80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
Why it matters:
Only a few UI elements or actions drive the majority of usage in most applications.
How to apply it:
Prioritize core features in your application interface design
De-emphasize low-use features
Emphasize the most used areas in mobile app UI design
8. Aesthetic Usability Effect – Beautiful = Usable
What it says:
Attractive things are perceived to be more usable.
Why it matters:
Even if a bad design is functional, users will perceive it negatively. A good user interface builds trust and improves engagement.
How to apply it:
Follow a design system
Keep your UI design website clean and readable
Use well-matched fonts, spacing, and color schemes
Many great UI websites leverage this law brilliantly.
9. Serial Position Effect – First & Last Are Memorable
What it says:
Items at the start or end of a list are more likely to be remembered.
Why it matters:
This impacts user journeys, feature prioritization, and even form UI design.
How to apply it:
Place high-value features first or last
Optimize headers and footers
Use this rule in onboarding flows
10. Peak End Rule – Moments > Averages
What it says:
Users remember the best and last parts of an experience.
Why it matters:
That delightful animation at the end of a checkout flow or an easy final screen can define the whole experience.
How to apply it:
Add micro-interactions during key actions
Ensure the final moments are smooth
Avoid errors especially at the end
A key principle taught in user experience design courses and UX design classes.
Why These Laws Are Important?
Implementing the laws of UX will change the way you design and think about products.
Benefits include:
Clarifying the UX design process
Creating more human-centered mobile interface design
Supporting teamwork across disciplines
Enabling better usability testing and user research
These are not rigid rules, they are flexible foundations. Combined with testing and iteration, they guide UI UX designers toward better outcomes.
Final Thoughts: Design with Psychology
UX design isn’t just about pleasing looks, it's about function, empathy, and psychology. These 10 UX laws provide a foundation for any UX and UI designers working in today’s fast-paced digital environment. Whether you're building a new app UI, a software wireframe, or a responsive web UI design, these principles should guide your decisions.
At Pairfect Design Studio, we believe that great design begins with human understanding. That’s why we embed the UX design principles and UI principles into every touchpoint. Our work is grounded in user experience design tools, UI UX designer tools, and a keen sense of what makes a product feel intuitive and joyful.
If you're looking to learn design, consider enrolling in a UI UX online course, exploring tools for wireframes website creation, or diving deeper into Google UX Design Certificate programs. This ongoing learning helps teams craft meaningful, impactful designs that solve real-world problems.
Design not just to impress - design to connect.
Design not just for users - but with users in mind.
