Mental models are flexible

Because users’ mental models are based on beliefs rather than facts, they’re flexible and can change as users have new experiences. As designers, we can use this flexibility to help users create new mental models for our products.

One way to improve user mental models is to explain things within your interface so that they have a better understanding of how it works. Even something as simple as labeling your interface elements to make them more transparent can have a profound effect on a user’s mental model.^[1]