Designing Experiences + Sharing Knowledge

With over a decade of experience designing exceptional user experiences across diverse digital platforms, I am passionate about not only creating intuitive and engaging designs but also sharing my knowledge. I strive to empower fellow designers by keeping them informed on the latest UX trends and innovations.

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The Psychology of Unfinished Tasks, How UX Designers Can Leverage the Zeigarnik Effect

Have you ever started something but couldn’t stop thinking about it until it was finished? That’s the Zeigarnik Effect at work—a psychological principle stating that people remember and feel compelled to complete unfinished tasks more than completed ones. In UX design, leveraging the Zeigarnik Effect can improve user engagement, retention, and conversion rates by creating experiences that encourage users to come back and complete actions.

Real-World Examples of the Zeigarnik Effect in UX

LinkedIn’s Profile Completion Bar

LinkedIn shows users a progress bar indicating how “complete” their profile is. Seeing an incomplete profile at 60% triggers the urge to finish it, encouraging users to add more details.

Duolingo’s Streak System

Duolingo uses streaks and progress tracking to keep users engaged. If someone misses a day, they get a notification nudging them to continue, playing on their need to maintain an ongoing activity.

E-Commerce Checkout Reminders (Amazon, Shopify, etc.)

When users abandon their cart, e-commerce platforms send reminder emails saying “You left something behind!” This taps into the Zeigarnik Effect, making users feel the need to complete the purchase.

Netflix’s “Continue Watching” Feature

If you leave a show halfway through an episode, Netflix keeps it in the “Continue Watching” section. Seeing unfinished content tempts users to resume watching.

How to Apply the Zeigarnik Effect in UX Design

Use progress indicators – Show users how much they’ve completed and what’s left to encourage them to continue.
Create micro-tasks – Break actions into smaller steps (e.g., step-by-step onboarding, profile setup).
Send reminders – Use email or app notifications to bring users back to unfinished tasks.
Leverage gamification – Use streaks, rewards, or achievements to make users feel invested in the process.

By understanding and applying the Zeigarnik Effect, UX designers can craft experiences that naturally encourage users to return, engage, and complete their journey.