Dark Patterns in UI/UX Design: A Critical Look at Manipulative Design Practices
UI/UX design is at the heart of how users interact with digital products. While good design focuses on creating seamless and enjoyable experiences, the emergence of dark patterns reveals a different narrative—one that prioritizes manipulation over ethics. Coined by UX designer Harry Brignull in 2010, dark patterns are deceptive design tactics intentionally engineered to trick users into taking unintended actions. These patterns might boost short-term metrics, but they often harm user trust, brand loyalty, and ethical reputation in the long run. Some of the most popular dark patterns that you must have experienced are 1. Roach Motel In this type of dark pattern, users find it easy to enter a situation but extremely difficult to exit like in Roach motet. Designers bury cancellation flows in menus, create multi-step forms, or add unnecessary verification steps. Example: Video streaming requires navigating a multi-page cancellation process with frequent attempts to convi...