6.9. Forms

Ask for the minimum amount of information

Only ask for the information you need and explain why you need it.

Why:

• reduced processing time for the user: the less information you request from the user, the less time and cognitive load it requires. The result is a better user experience;
• reduced risk of lost conversions: the user will be more inclined to finish filling in the form if it's short and doesn't ask for too much information;
• reduced information processing time for your company;
• improve the eco-design of your service: see Designers éthiques' eco-design guide.

Be careful about pre-selected options

When options are preselected by default in a form, the user will tend to keep them. Humans tend to go for the simplest, fastest option.

It's essential to avoid pre-selecting options, especially for any form that may guide the user (in a way he or she may not wish).
Shopping forms, for example: the user has to take the action of adding the various elements and options required. This adds desirable friction (Part 5 of this guide). The user has time to realise what he's doing (in this case, buying) and to question their real need.

Example

Too many pre-selected options

In this example, Virgin has pre-selected the default option allowing the company to send emails to the customer. The company requires an action on the part of the user to prevent these emails from being sent.

Image source: darkpatterns.uxp2.com

Special case

In the case of the tax form, pre-selecting options is not a problem. It's a long and complicated form. Users have to be careful about what they enter. The risk of error is high and has a major impact.

Pre-selected options are used to complete information known in advance. This limits the number of errors the user can make.
Here, the user can modify all information (even that already entered).