Ethical Design Patterns

Recognize manipulation and design with integrity. Ethical design builds trust; dark patterns destroy it.

"Dark patterns are not bad design. They are design that works exactly as intended — against the user." — Harry Brignull

Dark Patterns Taxonomy

1. Roach Motel

Easy to get in, hard to get out.

Examples: Subscriptions that are easy to start but require calling customer service to cancel. Accounts that can be created in one click but deletion requires emailing support.

Fix: Make exit as easy as entry. One-click cancellation. Self-service account deletion.

2. Sneak into Basket

Items added without explicit user consent.

Examples: Insurance pre-selected at checkout. Donation added without clear opt-in. "Premium" version auto-selected.