The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product, Service, Instructional, Interior, and Game Designers
Welcome to The Design Psychologist, a podcast where we explore the intersection of psychology and design. The show is hosted by Thomas Watkins, a design psychologist who has spent years applying behavioral science principles to the creation of digital products.
We sit down with a variety of experts who apply psychology in different ways to the design of the world around us. Thomas uses his expertise to guide conversations that provide practical advice while illuminating the theory behind why designs succeed.
Tune in if you are a design practitioner who seeks to understand your work on a deeper level and craft experiences that are intuitive, effective, and delightful.
The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product, Service, Instructional, Interior, and Game Designers
Design for Ease: The Psychology of Effort in UX Design
Imagine dragging a jammed suitcase through a crowded airport—frustrating, right? Now imagine that same experience happening in your app, your website, or your product design. That’s performance load: the hidden mental and physical effort users endure when your design isn’t working for them.
In this episode, we take our first step into the world of design psychology by exploring the concept of performance load. You’ll learn how cluttered interfaces, too many clicks, and confusing layouts quietly pile up work on your users. And more importantly, you’ll discover how small design shifts can reduce friction and create smoother, more delightful experiences.
You’ll learn:
- What “performance load” really means—and why it matters
- The four types of load: visual, intellectual, memory, and motor
- How to spot friction in your designs before it frustrates your users
- How real organizations like NASA and Dropbox design for ease
- When simplifying a task helps—and when it hurts (especially in education)
By the end of this episode, you’ll see your design not just as a tool, but as a bridge between humans and their goals—and you’ll know how to make that bridge a whole lot easier to cross.