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Showing posts from September, 2025

What Are Dark Patterns in UX — And Why Designers Should Avoid Them

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Have you ever clicked “X” on a pop-up, only to find yourself subscribed anyway? Or tried to cancel a subscription, only to feel like you were stuck in a digital escape room? These aren’t accidents. They’re intentional. They’re called Dark Patterns . 🌍 Introduction: When Design Becomes Deception In a world where attention is currency and engagement is everything, some companies choose manipulation over honesty. While these tricks may bring short-term gains, they cost businesses something far more valuable: trust . 🕳️ What Are Dark Patterns? Dark patterns are design tactics that trick users into taking actions they didn’t intend —like subscribing, oversharing data, or spending money. The term was coined by UX designer Harry Brignull in 2010 , and sadly, they’re still alive and well today. At their core, dark patterns exploit human psychology for business gain, at the expense of the user’s trust and autonomy. Example: Amazon’s Prime cancellation flow once required users to go throug...

UX Teaser: From Consistency to Dark Patterns

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Consistency vs Dark Patterns — Stay tuned! Two weeks ago, I explored Content Standards in Design Systems —why consistency matters ✅ This Saturday, I’ll release a new post: Dark Patterns in UX—and Why Designers Should Avoid Them ⚠️ 💬 Quick question:  What’s the sneakiest trick you’ve seen in an app or website? Share your experiences in the comments—I may highlight them in the blog! Read the last blog here:  🧩 Content Standards in Design Systems: The Missing Layer of Consistency

🧩 Content Standards in Design Systems: The Missing Layer of Consistency

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Bridging the gap between beautiful UI and meaningful UX.  When we talk about design systems, we often spotlight components, color palettes, typography, grids, buttons, icons and spacing. These are, of course, crucial— but what about verbal consistency ?  Just as buttons and cards should look consistent, the words inside them —the microcopy, error messages, CTAs, and instructional text—should sound and feel consistent too. This is where content standards come in. Content standards define the voice, tone, terminology, and writing conventions across a product ecosystem. They ensure that your messaging is consistent, user-friendly, and aligned with brand identity. Without them, even the most visually cohesive design system can feel fragmented and confusing. 💬 What Are Content Standards? Content standards define how language is used consistently across digital interfaces. This includes: Voice and tone guidelines Terminology and vocabulary choices Microcopy patterns (e.g....