Effects of Interface Complexity and Luminance Contrast on Visual Search Efficiency and Cognitive Load in Digital Museums

This study investigates how interface complexity (layout complexity, exhibit density) and luminance contrast affect visual search efficiency and cognitive load in web‐based digital museums. Participants completed target‐search tasks under varied layout complexities (high/medium/low), luminance contrasts (15:1, 10:1, 5:1), and exhibit densities ( N = 18–24/12‐17/6‐11). Search time and pupil diameter were measured as dependent variables. Results showed exhibit density and luminance contrast significantly affected search time, while layout complexity and luminance contrast influenced pupil diameter. Although layout complexity did not significantly affect search time, high complexity increased search duration compared to medium/low levels. Exhibit density did not significantly affect pupil diameter, but higher densities progressively increased pupil diameter, indicating elevated cognitive load. Significant interactions emerged between luminance contrast/exhibit density and layout complexity. These findings provide empirical guidelines for optimizing digital museum interfaces to balance search efficiency and cognitive demands.