UI/UX
Lesson 14 of 34 · Laws of UX 5/5
Laws of UX

Serial position effect

People remember the first and last items in a series best.

Why it matters

People remember the first and last items in a series best (primacy and recency). That's why apps put Home first and Profile last.

How to apply it

  • Put the most important nav items first and last
  • Open and close pages with your strongest messages
  • Place key actions at the ends of toolbars

Common mistakes

  • Burying your main service in the middle of a list

Quick answers

What is Serial position effect?

People remember the first and last items in a series best. People remember the first and last items in a series best (primacy and recency). That's why apps put Home first and Profile last.

How do I apply Serial position effect in UI design?

Put the most important nav items first and last. Open and close pages with your strongest messages. Place key actions at the ends of toolbars.

What are common mistakes with Serial position effect?

Burying your main service in the middle of a list.

Further reading

That's the last lesson in Laws of UX

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