critique-information-density

Evaluate the screen across four dimensions: cognitive load, content priority, scanning pattern, and progressive disclosure. For each, record a neutral observation, the problem and why it matters, and a specific fix, then rate the dimension as pass, minor issue, or major issue.

Information density critique assesses the whole screen: load, priority, scannability, and disclosure. Hick's law addresses the underlying principle that decision time grows with choice count, so use it when the core issue is the number of options presented.

Show only the most actionable metrics instead of every available one, remove elements that do not serve the current task, and focus the screen on a single user goal. Defer secondary detail to drill-down views through progressive disclosure.

Use progressive disclosure when a screen shows all available information at once and the entry path becomes ambiguous. Hide genuinely secondary content behind expandable sections, tabs, or detail views, but never bury primary actions or critical information.

Common failures include dashboards showing every metric, detail pages inlining all related objects, tables with 10+ columns where 3 do most of the work, single-step forms that should be multi-step, and onboarding that front-loads explanation before the user acts.