UX, cognitive overload, and Learning Design in Santa's cave
Let me tell you a festive little tale—not about sugarplums or sleigh bells, but about something just as relevant this time of year: UX (user experience), cognitive overload, and why intentional Learning Design is more important than ever.
Hi, I'm Bianca Raby—newish aunt, eternal Christmas enthusiast, and passionate advocate for thoughtful Learning Design. Last year, I had the joy (and chaos) of taking my niece to Santa's cave at a mall in Adelaide. Sounds magical, right? It was—until we hit the UX equivalent of a holiday traffic jam. Stick with me. This one's got snowflakes, screaming toddlers, and a lesson in cognitive overload.
When bad UX and cognitive overload ruin the magic
Picture this: you've spent hours prepping your toddler for their Santa photo moment. You ride the train, wait in line, survive the meltdowns, and finally get the perfect picture. Cue relief. Then… comes the photo purchase experience.
The moment we exited Santa's cave, we were bombarded by a confusing, over designed pricing chart. It was filled with terms like "Magic Pack," "GS," and "CBD Editions." What do any of these mean? The layout had no intuitive flow. The visual design was loud. The information architecture? A nightmare. This is UX gone rogue—and textbook cognitive overload.
As we tried to decipher the options, I had a toddler tugging at my leg, a granddad asking all the same questions I had just asked, and a very unamused staff member blinking back at me. In that moment, I didn't need magic. I needed a clear interface and decent Learning Design—because make no mistake, this was a learning experience. One that failed, hard.
Fight cognitive overload with Learning Design
Here's where the lesson lands. That Santa photo board? It's no different from a course without Learning Design. If your learners are faced with:
- Overwhelming menus,
- Vague terminology,
- Inconsistent visuals, and
- A lack of navigational logic,
…they will check out—just like I almost did. This is the heart of cognitive overload, and it's our job in Learning Design to avoid it. Good UX is not a luxury; it's a necessity.
Effective Learning Design considers the learner's mental bandwidth, just like good UX considers the user's journey. Together, they reduce cognitive overload by keeping things clean, intuitive, and supportive. This is how we empower learners—not exhaust them.
A UX gift in Learning Design
Let's be honest: nobody should feel flustered, confused, or mentally fried when engaging with something meant to be joyful—or educational. Whether you're crafting Christmas experiences or building online courses, UX and Learning Design go hand in hand to protect users from cognitive overload.
So if anyone from Myer is reading this—call me. I'll gladly help redesign your Santa pricing board before next Christmas rolls around. And for everyone else? Take a moment to reflect on your own course designs. Are they joyful or just jarring?
If this tale made you sweat just reading it, you're not alone. Drop your thoughts below, and check out my video on how to reduce cognitive overload in your own Learning Design practice.
Until next time—design with empathy, prioritise UX, and have a very merry (and user-friendly) Christmas.