An email from Lara Eastburn pinged into my inbox like a nudge from the universe. I was knee-deep in a UX certification course, exploring the ethics of design and digital marketing. So yes, my moral high horse was fully saddled and trotting.
You’re browsing an online store, and suddenly, “Only 3 left in stock!” flashes across the screen. You hurry to checkout… only to find a mystery item sneakily added to your cart. It feels shady because it is. That’s not a bug. That’s a dark pattern in action.
These manipulative UX tactics are designed to pressure, not to inform. They may boost short-term sales, but they damage long-term relationships.
In my UX coursework, we’ve been examining shady tactics like guilt-driven discounts, manufactured urgency, and hidden cart add-ons. These strategies manipulate users’ emotions, pushing them toward decisions they may not have made otherwise.
But here’s the catch: when users sense they’ve been tricked, it chips away at something priceless: trust. And trust is the cornerstone of any sustainable business.
In my own UX and web design work, I focus on building honest, transparent experiences that respect the user. Good design isn’t about outsmarting people. It’s about guiding them with integrity.
Because when users sense manipulation, they leave. They close the tab. They don’t come back. As Rex Kwon Do might say, they “break the wrist, walk away.”
One part of Lara’s email stuck with me:
“For me, it means you’re willing to keep asking that question. Not just once, but all the time.”
That’s the heart of ethical UX design. It’s not a one-time decision. It’s a continuous process. Some decisions are clear-cut, but many aren’t. That’s why we must keep asking the hard questions, even when “best practices” have moved on.
The most ethical designers and marketers aren’t the ones with the most polished slogans. They’re the ones still grappling with complexity, still staying in the room when it gets uncomfortable.
So now, with every design decision, I ask: Does this respect the user’s intent and trust? If not, it’s time to rework.
Because designing with clarity isn’t just ethical. It’s smart, sustainable business.
