Memory & Recall
Serial Position Effect
First and last items in a series are remembered best.
In practice
Takeaways
- 1
Put the most important nav items at the start and end.
- 2
Lead lists with primary value and close with action.
- 3
Middle positions are easiest to overlook.
Origins
Serial position effects describe memory advantages for items at the beginning and end of a list. Middle items are more likely to be skipped or forgotten.
Ordering is therefore a design decision with real impact on discovery and recall.
Design Applications
- Place key table columns on the left and actions on the right.
- Open menus with the highest-value category.
- Repeat critical links in footer navigation.
Related Principles
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Cognitive Load & Decision Making
Miller's Law
Working memory holds roughly 7±2 items at once.
Learn more ›
Visual Hierarchy & Perception
Von Restorff Effect
Distinct items among similar ones are remembered best.
Learn more ›
Memory & Recall
Working Memory
Temporary storage for information needed to complete a task.
Learn more ›Tools worth a look
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