Beyond FAIR: Designing Cognitive Accessibility in Data-Rich Repositories

FAIR principles make data technically accessible but do not guarantee cognitively accessible experiences, especially in data-rich repositories. Cognitive accessibility is often overlooked, yet interfaces with high cognitive load affect all users, not just those with diagnosed disabilities. Neurodivergent researchers, likely overrepresented in academia, face additional challenges due to differences in working memory, executive function, and processing speed, making repository UX a critical equity issue. This presentation addresses three common cognitive pain points: scanning large volumes of metadata to find relevant information; switching between broad and highly specific searches while maintaining context; and navigating repository structures that do not reflect the varied priorities of different user groups. Drawing on cognitive load theory and W3C COGA guidelines, the presentation demonstrates practical UX patterns that reduce extraneous cognitive load: grouping related metadata into clear, scannable sections; eliminating redundant information; and providing persistent mechanisms to carry context across search and discovery modes. Attendees will learn how to identify cognitive anti-patterns in their own repositories and apply these design solutions making FAIR-compliant metadata more usable, inclusive, and equitable for a wide range of researchers.