Mastery

While onboarding focuses on initial learning, mastery focuses on extended learnability—building proficiency for the subset of users who become experts.

Most users remain perpetual intermediates—comfortable and productive without seeking mastery. Design for mastery by providing optional paths to expertise without forcing all users through them.

Accelerators

Mechanisms to bypass slower interfaces and act directly.

• Keyboard shortcuts: Require memorisation; primarily adopted by experts
• Command menus: Bridge between graphical and command-line interfaces; accessible to intermediates
• Gestures: Swipe, pinch, drag-and-drop for direct manipulation

Customisation

Allow users to shape the tool around their workflow. See malleability for the underlying framework.

• Layout control: Rearrange panels, hide unused tools, save workspace configurations
• Automation: Macros, scripts, or recorded actions for repetitive tasks

Depth

Accelerators help users do things faster. Depth helps users understand things better—optional paths to deeper domain understanding for those who want it.

• Domain exposure: Reveal the concepts behind interface elements—why this workflow exists, what this data structure represents
• Consequence visibility: Show downstream effects of actions in domain terms, not just system terms
• Pattern recognition: Help users see recurring domain structures across the system

Unlike accelerators (which save time), depth mechanisms invest time for understanding. They should be clearly optional—most perpetual intermediates plateau productively without them.

This is extended domain learnability—helping users who want to understand the domain more deeply through continued use of the tool.

Retention

Retention mechanisms address the forgetting curve for infrequently-used but important procedures.

• Contextual reminders: “Last time you did X, you chose Y because…”
• Spaced re-exposure: Gradually surface advanced features as foundations solidify
• Decision echoes: Show past decisions when users return to complex areas

Resources

• Andy Matuschak (2025). How might we learn? – dynamic practice and spaced reinforcement for retention
• User experience over time: an initial framework (Karapanos et al., 2009) – incorporation of the service in the daily life
• About Face (Cooper et al.) on perpetual intermediates
• Brenda Laurel (2013) Computers as Theatre, 2nd ed.
• Carroll, J. M., & Rosson, M. B. (1987). The Paradox of the Active User
• Mayer, R. E., & Moreno, R. (2003). Nine ways to reduce cognitive load in multimedia learning. Educational Psychologist, 38(1), 43-52.