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Dark Patterns: Past, Present, and Future

An article examining how designers use deceptive UI techniques, the growing public awareness of dark patterns, and the responsibilities engineers and leaders have to prevent them.

Overview
The article discusses the concept of dark patterns-design tricks that manipulate user behavior-and traces their evolution from early examples to modern implementations. It highlights the ethical implications for software engineers, product managers, and technical leaders, urging a shift toward responsible design practices.

Key Takeaways

  • Dark patterns exploit user psychology to achieve business goals at the expense of user trust.
  • Increased scrutiny from regulators, journalists, and the public is driving a backlash against deceptive design.
  • Technical leaders must embed ethical considerations into product development and design review processes.
  • Practical guidelines are offered for identifying and eliminating dark patterns within existing systems.

Who Would Benefit

  • Engineering managers responsible for product quality and user experience.
  • Technical leaders and CTOs setting design standards.
  • UX/UI designers seeking ethical design frameworks.
  • Software engineers interested in the societal impact of their work.

Frameworks and Methodologies

  • Ethical design checklists for UI/UX reviews.
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) principles applied to product decisions.
  • Governance models for incorporating user-centric metrics into engineering KPIs.
Source: queue.acm.org
#dark patterns#user experience#design ethics#technical leadership#engineering management#software engineering#human-computer interaction#technology ethics

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