Show what user needs now. Reveal more when needed.
Goal
Reduce visible complexity without hiding essential work.
Rules
- Keep primary actions visible.
- Hide only secondary or advanced options.
- Use clear reveal controls.
- Keep reveal patterns consistent.
- Remember user preference when useful.
- Provide search for deep settings.
- Test with new and experienced users.
Levels
- Level 0: essential, always visible.
- Level 1: important, one action away.
- Level 2: useful but less common.
- Level 3: advanced, intentionally deeper.
Patterns
- Expand section for extra fields.
- Tooltip for short help.
- Drawer or modal for sub-flow.
- Tabs for peer categories.
- More menu for secondary actions.
- Wizard for multi-step setup.
Flow
- Inventory visible elements.
- Mark user need and frequency.
- Keep essential frequent items visible.
- Move contextual items one action away.
- Move rare advanced items deeper.
- Add clear trigger labels or icons.
- Test task completion and findability.
Resources
Output
## Progressive Disclosure Plan
Interface: [name]
Level 0:
- [element]
Level 1:
- Trigger: [control]
- Reveals: [elements]
Level 2+:
- Trigger: [control]
- Reveals: [elements]
Metrics:
- Task completion: [target]
- Time to complete: [target]
- Support tickets/confusion: [target]
Checks
- Primary task works without expansion.
- Advanced feature can be found.
- Reveal affordance is obvious.