Content Strategy Insights David Dylan Thomas and Dayana Kibilds: Cognitive Load and Emotional Labor
Jul 27, 2022
David Dylan Thomas, independent content strategist and author focused on inclusive design. Dayana Kibilds, higher-ed strategy director improving admissions clarity. They discuss cognitive load and emotional labor in user experiences. They cover admissions language, the Hemingway ‘brick wall’, how design and flow create barriers, and simple language fixes that reduce burden.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Hemingway Brick Wall Example
- Dayana ran a college Dream Act page through the Hemingway app and it turned almost entirely red, revealing postgraduate-level language.
- She described that red result as a brick wall that potential students, especially diverse ones, cannot get over.
Scattered Content Creates Excess Cognitive Load
- Dayana framed excessive language and fragmented content as cognitive load: applicants must visit ~30 links and read 15–20 pages to figure requirements.
- That scattering forces students to decide what applies to them while reading at literacy levels beyond their comfort.
Simplify Language First
- Simplify language on admissions pages as an immediate, high-impact fix anyone can implement without a full redesign.
- Dayana argues changing wording alone reduces barriers and can open doors for students lacking literacy support.