Tornouse

Tornouse is a term used in digital design and human–computer interaction to describe the deliberate, temporary removal of a non-essential user interface element during a specific task. The goal of tornouse design is to reduce visual clutter and cognitive load, helping users focus on the primary action or content at hand. The concept is not tied to a single platform and has been discussed in relation to mobile apps, websites, and software interfaces.

Etymology and history: The coinage emerged in online design discourse during the early 2020s, with multiple contributors describing similar patterns without a single definitive origin. Because it arose in community discussions rather than through a formal standards body, exact origins and canonical definitions vary somewhat across sources.

Principles and practice: Core characteristics of tornouse include temporary removal, reversibility, and task-driven eligibility. Elements deemed non-critical for a given task are hidden or collapsed and can reappear through a defined trigger such as user action, context change, or a timed delay. Tornouse often relies on progressive disclosure and contextual optimization to preserve access to features while prioritizing the main workflow. Design teams may measure its impact on task completion time, error rates, and perceived focus.

Examples: On a reading app, the bottom navigation bar may disappear while a document is being viewed and reappear when the user taps the screen. On an e-commerce product page, secondary filters can be hidden during initial browsing and revealed only after the user indicates interest or scrolls back to the top.

Reception and critique: Proponents argue tornouse can improve clarity and speed for specific tasks, but critics warn that hiding features can reduce discoverability and frustrate users who rely on hidden elements. As with many design patterns, its effectiveness depends on task context and user expectations.

See also: minimalism, progressive disclosure, focus design.