Literacy & Design: How the Reading Crisis Impacts UI Choices

A growing body of research shows that many adults in the U.S. struggle with literacy due to ineffective reading instruction based on debunked theories like the "three-cueing" system. This system, which gained popularity in the 1980s, encourages readers to guess words based on context, pictures, or initial letters rather than decoding words phonetically. As a result, it created a foundational learning problem that now affects many adults in their 40s. This approach has led to widespread issues in reading comprehension, impacting everything from job opportunities to everyday digital interactions.

When I first encountered this research, it was an a-ha moment. I was lucky to grow up with phonics, so reading always felt natural. However, this article’s revelations about three-cueing illuminated a much larger, systemic issue in education that has left countless people with significant reading challenges. It also reframed a familiar design assumption: “Users don’t read.” It’s not just about choice or habit; for many, reading can be a taxing and difficult experience.

This story from the article really struck me. It illustrates how deeply ingrained these flawed strategies are, affecting current students and reflecting the struggles of adults who have had to hide their literacy challenges for years. Here’s an excerpt that resonated deeply with me:

"The teacher said, 'If you don't know the word, just look at this picture up here,' Woodworth recalled. 'There was a fox and a bear in the picture. And the word was bear, and she said, "Look at the first letter. It's a 'b.' Is it fox or bear?"' Woodworth was stunned. 'I thought, "Oh my God, those are my strategies." Those are the things I taught myself to look like a good reader, not the things that good readers do,' she said. 'These kids were being taught my dirty little secrets.'" - At a Loss for Words

This insight shifted my understanding of what it means to design for all users. As product designers, we aren’t in a position to overhaul reading instruction, but we are responsible for creating content and experiences that accommodate different literacy levels. Rather than assuming users skip content out of laziness, we need to consider their struggles and design with empathy to make information accessible, clear, and engaging.

The Hidden Literacy Crisis in User Experience

The literacy crisis extends into adulthood and influences how people engage with the world, including digital products. Users with low literacy may struggle to understand instructions, navigate complex forms, or comprehend dense content, leading to frustration and disengagement. If our designs only cater to fluent readers, we miss the chance to make products accessible to millions who find reading challenging. To bridge this gap, our products must provide support beyond text and use design choices that make comprehension more intuitive.

Empathy in Design: Moving Beyond Assumptions

As product designers, we may not be able to directly improve literacy skills, but we can make it easier for all users to understand and interact with our content. Here’s how we can take cues from successful user experiences to support comprehension:

• Clear Visuals: See Slack’s widget onboarding or Current’s animations as examples. Both products employ visuals that don’t overwhelm but clarify, communicating steps and options without complex instructions. In a way, these visuals mirror the principles behind the flawed 'three-cueing' education system—simplifying choices based on context, making things easier to guess at a glance.

• Concise, Structured Text: Breaking down content into bullet points, subheadings, and short paragraphs helps avoid intimidating blocks of text, making information easier to process.

• Multiple Formats: Offer options like videos, animations, and interactive elements that convey key information beyond text alone. These alternative formats can help users who may struggle with lengthy explanations understand faster.

Designing for Real User Needs

The trend toward short-form video and interactive content isn’t just about engagement metrics—it’s about accessibility. TikTok’s success in making information easily digestible through short, engaging clips has helped users of varying literacy levels understand content more effectively. Many people now turn to TikTok to learn before consulting traditional sources, highlighting the potential and pitfalls of this shift. For users with literacy challenges, video and animation offer a way to receive information without the friction of dense text. As designers, embracing these trends can help make products more inclusive, creating pathways for users to understand content more quickly and intuitively.

Takeaways for Product Designers

• Prioritize Clarity: Ensure every visual and textual element supports understanding at a glance.

• Test for Accessibility: Regularly test your designs with users of varying literacy levels to confirm usability.

• Collaborate with Content Creators: Work closely with writers to ensure that both design and text are aligned to communicate effectively.

• Adapt and Evolve: Stay informed on literacy research and be ready to adapt your approach as the field evolves.

Conclusion

It was eye-opening to realize how deeply literacy issues affect user interaction. Understanding the impact of this crisis urges us to rethink our approach to design. Empathy in design goes beyond assuming that users simply don’t read. By addressing their challenges, we can make our products more accessible and effective for everyone, regardless of their literacy level.