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The principles that fix 80% of interface problems. Free breakdown + real examples to your inbox.

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Part 2 / 6

Core Principles

The 30 laws that fix 80% of interface problems. Hick's, Fitts's, Miller's, and more.

34 principles·8 chapters·~13 min each

Explore the 34 principles

Design Fundamentals

The 30 laws that fix 80% of interface problems. Hick's Law tells you how many options to show. Fitts's Law sizes your buttons. Miller's Law structures your navigation. These aren't opinions—they're peer-reviewed formulas used by Stripe, Linear, and Notion. Apply them and watch conversion rates, task completion, and user satisfaction metrics improve.

For Designers

Stop reinventing the wheel. Hick's Law tells you exactly how many options to show. Fitts's Law sizes your buttons. These 30 principles are the shortcuts top designers use—memorize them and you'll solve interface problems in minutes, not meetings.

For Developers

Vague specs cost you time. When a PM says "make it more intuitive," these principles translate that into concrete implementation: reduce choices, increase target sizes, add system status feedback. Build to spec the first time instead of iterating through subjective feedback cycles.

For Product Managers

"Users don't convert" isn't a diagnosis. These principles pinpoint the exact cause: "Form abandonment at step 3 due to Hick's Law violation—too many payment options." Turn mystery metrics into actionable fixes with principles that have been validated across millions of users.

Inside this part

The 34 principles

Fundamental Design Principles

3
  • Consistency and Standards→
  • Design System Coherence Law→
  • Behavioral Consistency Law→

Feedback & Communication

4
  • Visibility of System Status→
  • Feedback Loop Completion Law→
  • Progressive Feedback Law→
  • Error Communication Clarity Law→

User Control & Freedom

5
  • User Control and Freedom→
  • Navigation Breadcrumb Law→
  • Escape Hatch Law→
  • Navigation Consistency Law→
  • Wayfinding Support Law→

Error Prevention & Recovery

4
  • Error Prevention→
  • Constraint-Based Prevention Law→
  • Graceful Degradation Law→
  • Error Recovery Guidance Law→

Efficiency & Flexibility

3
  • Flexibility and Efficiency of Use→
  • Expert Pathway Law→
  • Customization Balance Law→

Aesthetic & Minimalist

9
  • Aesthetic-Usability Effect→
  • Jakob''s Law→
  • Occam''s Razor→
  • Postel''s Law (Robustness Principle)→
  • Tesler''s Law (Conservation of Complexity)→
  • User Agency Preservation→
  • Mixed-Initiative Optimal Balance→
  • Hybrid Feedback Systems→
  • Negative Feedback Loop Prevention→

Help & Documentation

3
  • Help and Documentation→
  • Contextual Help Law→
  • Self-Service Support Law→

Error Communication

3
  • Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors→
  • Error Prevention Communication Law→
  • Contextual Error Guidance Law→

In practice

Real-world applications

Quick Wins (This Week)

  • Low conversions → Check Hick's Law violations in your CTAs
  • High bounce rates → Audit Visibility and Feedback patterns
  • Support tickets → Review Error Prevention and Recovery flows
  • User complaints → Map to specific principle violations

Strategic Value (This Quarter)

  • Create a heuristic evaluation checklist for design reviews
  • Document principle-based guidelines for your design system
  • Train your team to speak the language of principles
  • Establish metrics tied to specific principle compliance

Recommended first: Part I

Master Core Principles

34 principles, ready to apply.

Explore the 34 principles