Introduction

The role of learning experience design is to create courses and educational material that enhance learning outcomes. In many cases, learning experience designers and educators are responsible for the end-to-end design and implementation, including layout, UX/UI and visual design - complex disciplines that are important to understand specifically from the perspective of learning. In other cases, product designers are responsible for updating existing learning platforms and authoring tools or bringing to life entirely new ones - tasks that require a deep understanding of how people learn most effectively.

Cognitive science provides valuable insights into how people perceive and process information, offering guidance for creating learning environments that support cognitive engagement. Learning is a complex mental process involving attention, memory, and reasoning, and these processes are heavily influenced by how information is presented. In this context, visual and interaction design are not just about aesthetics or user satisfaction; they are integral to the effectiveness of learning experiences. More crucially, general best practices of visual and UX/UI design do not hold when we design for learning.

By leveraging cognitive principles, designers can create environments that align with the brain's natural tendencies to focus, process, and retain information. In the digital age, where online learning and EdTech products are central to education, understanding how design choices impact cognitive engagement has never been more important.

Cognitive Underpinnings of Perception and Learning

Cognitive science reveals that perception—the process by which we interpret sensory input—is not passive but highly active and selective. When learners engage with educational content, their brains must first filter and process information, deciding what is worth focusing on and what can be disregarded. Cognitive load theory suggests that if too much information is presented at once, the working memory can become overloaded, resulting in cognitive fatigue and reduced learning efficacy. Conversely, a well-designed learning experience ensures that cognitive load is appropriately managed, optimizing the chances for deeper learning.

In addition to cognitive load, attention is another critical factor. The brain is wired to respond to visual stimuli, but it is also highly susceptible to distractions. This is particularly true in digital environments, where constant notifications and extraneous information can draw focus away from the task at hand. However, the impact of high or low cognitive load and extraneous stimuli will vary context by context. For example, expert, highly motivated learners’ optimal cognitive load will usually be different than novice learners’ who are completing a mandatory training. 

Visual Design: Guiding Focus and Engagement

Effective visual design does more than just make a learning interface look appealing—it helps to guide the learner’s focus and supports cognitive engagement. Among Meyer’s 15 principles for multimedia instructional design one of the most important ones is the use of contrast. High contrast between text and background ensures legibility, while color contrast can be used to highlight important information or create visual hierarchies that guide the learner’s eye to key elements. For instance, the use of warm colors (reds and oranges) can draw attention to critical instructions, while cooler tones (blues and greens) help to create a calm, focused environment.

A well-structured layout is another important factor in visual design. The layout should provide clear paths for navigating the learning material without unnecessary distractions. Additionally, visual elements like icons, images, and infographics can support comprehension by making abstract concepts more concrete and relatable. However, use such visual elements intentionally, making sure that they serve a clear purpose and not draw visual attention away from where you would like your learners to focus.

The principle of gestalt psychology also plays a role in instructional design. While Gestalt theory is now over 100 years old, its principles have a firm place in design theory today, supplemented by newer theories that account for today’s dynamic visual variables. Gestalt suggests that the human brain tends to organize elements into unified wholes. Applying this to design, creating visual harmony through alignment, proximity, and grouping can help learners make sense of complex information more easily. When elements are perceived as part of a larger whole, they become easier to remember and process. 

Interaction Design: Leveraging Mindtools

Interaction design—how users interact with digital content—plays a vital role in fostering cognitive engagement. Unlike behavioral engagement, which involves actions like clicking buttons or completing tasks, mental engagement focuses on deep, sustained interaction with content that supports learning processes like problem-solving, analysis, and critical thinking. Effective interaction design encourages active learning by promoting tasks that require cognitive effort rather than passive consumption of content - we call these tasks and applications mindtools. 

One key principle is the use of interactive elements that prompt learners to actively engage with the material. For example, interactive diagrams or simulations that allow learners to manipulate variables in order to solve a problem can enhance understanding by making abstract concepts more tangible. In these cases, engagement is not about simply completing a task, but about deepening the learner’s understanding through thoughtful interaction. 

Moreover, it is essential to ensure that interactions are appropriately paced. According to cognitive load theory, too much interaction can overwhelm the learner, while too little can lead to disengagement. The optimal amount and type of interaction is one that encourages mental engagement without exhausting cognitive resources - and you may have guessed it, it depends on your audience’s expertise and motivations. Novices and experts process and integrate information differently and instructional strategies that are highly effective for one group may backfire when used with the other group.

Multimodal Learning: Integrating Visual and Interactive Elements

Cognitive research emphasizes the importance of multimodal learning, where learners engage with content in various ways—visually, auditorily, and interactively. Combining visual stimuli (such as graphics or videos) with interactive elements (such as quizzes or simulations) supports different cognitive processes, which can promote more effective learning. However, choosing and assembling different kinds of elements for a learning program requires care and expertise, without which students will not be able to benefit from a multimodal approach.

The widespread myth of learning styles suggests that each learner has an optimal mode of learning—a belief that, despite its popularity, has been scientifically disproven. Multimodal learning’s effectiveness does not stem from catering to individual learning styles or preferences. Instead, engaging with multiple modes benefits all learners by fostering deeper understanding and stronger knowledge retention. By presenting content in varied forms, we create richer cognitive pathways that enhance learning for everyone, regardless of personal preferences.

Conclusion

Effective learning design is not just about creating aesthetically pleasing interfaces or adding interactive features—it is about understanding how the brain processes, retains, and applies information. By grounding design choices in cognitive principles, we can create learning environments that foster mental engagement, promote deep learning, and ensure that learners remain focused and motivated. As digital learning continues to evolve, leveraging cognitive science in the design of visual and interactive elements will be essential in optimizing learning outcomes for all learners.