Learn to recognize manipulative design - so you never use it
These are examples of BAD design. We're studying them to understand how they manipulate users - NOT to copy them. Ethical design respects users and their choices.
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Makes users feel guilty or stupid for declining. The "no" option is written to shame the user into clicking "yes."
Yes, sign me up
No thanks
Neutral language. Respect the user's choice.
Easy to get in, nearly impossible to get out. Deliberately makes cancellation difficult to prevent users from leaving.
Make cancellation as easy as signup. One-click unsubscribe. No dark patterns.
Advertises low price, reveals true cost at checkout. Users are already invested, so they're more likely to complete purchase despite higher price.
Show total price upfront. No surprise fees. Transparency builds trust.
7 days on us, then $99/mo
Auto-renews. Cancel anytime*
Free trial automatically converts to paid subscription without warning. Users forget and get charged.
Send reminder email before charging. Make cancellation easy. Don't require credit card for free trial.
*At checkout: "Sorry, out of stock. Try the Pro Max model for $149.99"
Advertises cheap product to get users to checkout, then reveals it's unavailable and pushes expensive alternative.
Show accurate stock levels. Don't advertise unavailable products. Be honest about pricing.
Pre-checks boxes to add extra charges or sign users up for things they didn't explicitly choose.
All optional items unchecked by default. Clear, honest language. Require explicit consent.
Spot the ad?
Ads designed to look like legitimate content or buttons. Users click thinking it's the real thing.
Clearly label ads as "Advertisement" or "Sponsored". Make them visually distinct from content.
Fake countdown timers and false scarcity to pressure users into quick decisions without thinking.
Only use real deadlines. If there's genuinely limited stock, show accurate numbers. Don't manufacture urgency.
As a designer and developer, you have power over users. Use it ethically. Every dark pattern you avoid is a choice to respect people. Design that serves users, not manipulates them. Your portfolio should demonstrate technical skill AND ethical awareness.
Learn more: deceptive.design | darkpatterns.org