A brief, UX-focussed exploration of dark patterns; a deceptive, influential form of design by Rory Watts - senior interaction designer at RMA Consulting. In this presentation I look at the range of dark patterns employed in web design and social policy, from small cheeky nudges to deliberate deception, with an additional dimension that measures the social impact of dark design.

1. Dark Patterns
@rorypwatts

2. A user interface carefully crafted to trick users
into doing things they might not otherwise do
Harry Brignull, darkpatterns.com

3. An experience deliberately crafted to exploit cognitive biases
and trick people into doing things they might not otherwise do
Rory Watts
Hard-wired flaws in human judgment that
cause people to come to illogical conclusions

4. Trick questions
Hidden information
Price anchoring
Bait and switch
Sneak in to basket
Illegal in the UK

5. The Darkness Scale
Selective truth /
gentle nudges
Downright lies /
forced behaviour

6. booking.com
Selectively displays content that looks good and
creates a sense of urgency to rush a purchase

7. Ryanair
Buries the “Don’t insure me” option within the list of
countries to make it harder to avoid fees

8. livenation.com
Sneaks a paid subscription to Rolling Stone magazine
in to your basket then obscures the option to remove it

9. Socedo
Blocks access until users enter card details, even
when there are seven days left in the trial period

10. The Consequences Matrix
Selective truth /
gentle nudges
Downright lies /
forced behaviour
Getting rich
Saving lives
ImmoralCheeky
?Smart!

11. Oxfam
Pre-selects monthly donation and moves selector out
of visual hotspot to increase regular donations

12. Organ Donation
Automatically signs citizens up to donate their organs.
People must opt out to leave the register.

13. Organ Donation

14. Brand Reputation
Dishonesty Trust
Be subtle and don’t push your luck!

15. Further Reading

16. Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception
Sophocles
@rorypwatts
medium.com/@rpd.watts