Good design isn’t just about what looks appealing — it’s about creating experiences that feel intuitive and guide users toward their goals. UX Laws and cognitive biases are powerful tools that top websites use to streamline interactions, enhance usability, and influence user behavior. Let’s dive into how popular platforms like Amazon, Instagram, Netflix, Coursera, and Airbnb apply these principles, showcasing each law or bias where it’s most effectively represented.

1. Fitts’s Law: Making Key Actions Accessible

Airbnb — Booking Page

• Observation: On Airbnb, the “Reserve” button on booking pages is prominently positioned next to the pricing details, catching users’ attention as they review final costs.

• Why It Works: Fitts’s Law suggests that the easier a target is to reach, the faster users can interact with it. Airbnb places the “Reserve” button within close proximity to key information, such as total cost, which encourages quicker booking decisions.

• Annotation: Highlight the “Reserve” button and the surrounding pricing details to show how easy access to this action reduces friction and enhances the booking experience.

2. Hick’s Law: Simplifying Decision-Making

Netflix — Homepage with Categories

• Observation: Netflix organizes content into categories, limiting choices on each screen. This organization makes it easy for users to focus on a few options at a time, preventing overwhelming decision-making moments.

• Why It Works: Hick’s Law states that more choices lead to slower decision-making. By grouping content into clear sections, Netflix helps users quickly find what interests them without feeling overwhelmed by the vast library.

• Annotation: Highlight a couple of categories, like “Trending Now” or “Recommended for You,” to show how Netflix simplifies browsing by presenting fewer options per view.

3. Anchoring Bias: Creating Perceived Value

Amazon — Product Pricing

• Observation: Amazon often displays the original price next to the discounted price, anchoring users’ perception of value around the higher original price.

• Why It Works: Anchoring Bias influences users’ sense of value by presenting a reference point (original price) that makes the discounted price seem like a significant deal.

• Annotation: Highlight the original and discounted prices, noting how this setup reinforces the perception of savings, nudging users toward a purchase.

4. Social Proof: Building Trust Through Reviews

Tripadvisor — Hotel Listings with Reviews

• Observation: Tripadvisor’s review system is front and center on hotel listings, showcasing the star rating and number of reviews. This use of social proof builds trust for users looking for reliable accommodation.

• Why It Works: Social Proof is a cognitive bias where people follow the actions of others, assuming their choices are validated. Seeing high ratings and numerous reviews reassures users, encouraging them to book.

• Annotation: Highlight the star rating and review count, noting how these elements enhance credibility and make users more likely to consider top-rated options.

5. Scarcity Bias: Creating Urgency

Booking.com — Hotel Availability Notifications

• Observation: Booking.com often displays messages like “Only 2 rooms left,” creating a sense of urgency for potential bookers.

• Why It Works: Scarcity Bias makes users perceive items as more valuable or desirable when they are in limited supply. Booking.com’s scarcity notifications tap into users’ fear of missing out, pushing them to secure a reservation quickly.

• Annotation: Circle the scarcity message, noting how it encourages quick decisions by implying limited availability.

6. Miller’s Law: Chunking Information for Better Recall

Coursera — Course Curriculum Section

• Observation: Coursera organizes its curriculum into modules or weekly sections, presenting course content in small, digestible parts.

• Why It Works: Miller’s Law suggests that people can only hold about 7 items in their short-term memory. By chunking the curriculum into smaller sections, Coursera makes it easier for users to understand and remember the course layout.

• Annotation: Highlight the weekly modules to show how the content is divided into manageable chunks, enhancing readability and comprehension.

Observations and Key Takeaways

Across these platforms, UX Laws and cognitive biases play a crucial role in creating effective and user-centered designs. Here are some key insights:

Strengths:

• Accessibility with Fitts’s Law: Airbnb’s booking layout makes actions like booking easy to reach, reducing user effort.

• Building Trust through Social Proof: Tripadvisor leverages reviews to boost credibility and guide user decisions.

• Creating Urgency with Scarcity: Booking.com’s notifications effectively drive action by making rooms feel more desirable.

Challenges:

• Managing Choice Overload: Netflix could benefit from even more personalized suggestions to further reduce decision fatigue.

• Moderating Scarcity Bias: Platforms like Booking.com may want to avoid overusing urgency cues to prevent users from feeling overly pressured.

Suggested Improvements

Based on these insights, here are a few suggestions to refine the user experience:

1. Netflix: Introduce a “Surprise Me” feature to help indecisive users quickly find new content without feeling overwhelmed.

2. Booking.com: Use scarcity messages sparingly for high-demand items to avoid over-reliance on urgency tactics.

3. Tripadvisor: Consider adding badges or visual highlights for “Top Reviews” to make it even easier for users to trust top-rated hotels.

Conclusion

These popular platforms show that UX Laws and cognitive biases, when applied thoughtfully, create experiences that feel natural and engaging. From encouraging decisions through Fitts’s Law to building trust with Social Proof, each website demonstrates unique ways of guiding user behavior. With small adjustments, these platforms could enhance usability even further, creating a balance between persuasive design and user-friendly experiences.