Is Your Website Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Let’s Hope Not.

When it comes to UX design, simplicity isn’t just a preference—it’s a necessity.

A core principle of great UX design is making the user feel smart, and that means creating an experience simple enough that even elementary school kids can navigate and understand it.

Why elementary school kids?

In the USA, 54% of adults have literacy levels below a 6th-grade level.

Your website isn’t an academic dissertation, and your audience isn’t academia. It’s everyday people who want quick, clear information without the hassle.

So, how do you keep things simple while still conveying your message effectively?

Simplify Your Copy

‍Refine your text by using a tool like Hemingway App that removes unnecessary phrases, simplifies language, and shortens sentences for better clarity.

Clear, concise copy is far more impactful than long-winded explanations. Remember, brevity is your friend.

Which is easier to read?

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Break Up Content into Digestible Sections

Nobody likes staring at a wall of text.

Large blocks of content look intimidating and are often skipped over.

Instead, break your content into smaller sections with clear headers and short paragraphs.

Each section should be easy to scan, allowing users to grasp the concept quickly and move on.

You'll notice I create a line break at the end of every sentence.

If it makes the content easier to scan, why not?

Embrace White (i.e. Negative) Space

‍When your layout is cluttered, users are more likely to feel lost and frustrated.

White space helps reduce visual overload, guiding users effortlessly through your content.

A clean, spacious design reassures users that they’re focused on the right elements and gives them the breathing room they need to enjoy the experience.

Not only does it enhance the content experience, but one startup found that it significantly boosted their conversion rate.

Webflow's blog has also covered this topic in a post, with a design that effectively puts their recommendation into action.

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Keep Animations Simple and Purposeful

‍Animations and transitions can enhance the user experience, but only when used with intention.

Over-the-top parallax effects, complex animations, and hijacking scroll can overwhelm users and distract from the core purpose.

Think of animations as make-up for your website—meant to accentuate your key ideas, not overshadow them.

Keep Non-Essential Information Out of the Happy Path

‍Every page should focus on one primary goal—the essence of what the user is there to do (and what you want them to do).

Secondary options, extra services, or non-critical information belong in dropdown menus, footers, or hamburger menus.

The happy path should be as streamlined as possible, guiding users toward the desired action with minimal distractions.

Marie Forleo is an entrepreneur and author, best known for her popular online program, B-School, which teaches modern marketing strategies and is a prime example of this approach showcased on her personal website.

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Keep It Simple

Still skeptical?

Just take a look at Apple and Google.

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Their web pages are models of simplicity—straightforward, user-friendly, and enjoyable to interact with.

By focusing on clarity, clean layouts, and intuitive navigation, you can create a website that leaves users feeling confident and satisfied while keeping your business goals at the forefront.

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