FlowOrderingMentalModel [rule] v1.0.0

Multi-step flows must sequence steps in the order users expect based on domain conventions. Never present a step before users have the context needed to complete it — and never ask for irreversible commitment before users have seen what they are committing to.

Severity

warning

Applies When

Designing any multi-step flow: checkout, onboarding, form wizard, setup flow.

Verify By

Walk the flow as a first-time user and ask at each step: 'Do I have enough context to complete this step?' If the answer is no, the step is out of order.

Anti Pattern

Asking for payment before showing what will be purchased. Asking for account creation before showing the product's value. Asking for personal information before explaining why it is needed.

Use Instead

• Checkout: cart → review → shipping → payment → confirmation
• Onboarding: value proposition → account creation → setup → first value moment
• Permission requests: explain why → request → confirm → use

FlowOrderingMentalModel [rule] v1.0.0

Multi-step flows must sequence steps in the order users expect based on domain conventions. Never present a step before users have the context needed to complete it — and never ask for irreversible commitment before users have seen what they are committing to.

Severity

warning

Applies When

Designing any multi-step flow: checkout, onboarding, form wizard, setup flow.

Verify By

Walk the flow as a first-time user and ask at each step: 'Do I have enough context to complete this step?' If the answer is no, the step is out of order.

Anti Pattern

Asking for payment before showing what will be purchased. Asking for account creation before showing the product's value. Asking for personal information before explaining why it is needed.

Use Instead

• Checkout: cart → review → shipping → payment → confirmation
• Onboarding: value proposition → account creation → setup → first value moment
• Permission requests: explain why → request → confirm → use

Rationale

Unexpected step ordering breaks users' mental model, causing confusion and loss of trust in the flow. When users reach a step they are not ready for, they abandon rather than continue.

Severity

warning

Applies When

Designing any multi-step flow: checkout, onboarding, form wizard, setup flow.

Verify By

Walk the flow as a first-time user and ask at each step: 'Do I have enough context to complete this step?' If the answer is no, the step is out of order.

Anti Pattern

Asking for payment before showing what will be purchased. Asking for account creation before showing the product's value. Asking for personal information before explaining why it is needed.

Use Instead

• Checkout: cart → review → shipping → payment → confirmation
• Onboarding: value proposition → account creation → setup → first value moment
• Permission requests: explain why → request → confirm → use