This paper focuses on the risks of dark patterns and the lack of practical solutions for companies and designers, who are the primary creators of such patterns. Considering both domestic and international regulatory trends, it newly defines challengin...
This paper focuses on the risks of dark patterns and the lack of practical solutions for companies and designers, who are the primary creators of such patterns. Considering both domestic and international regulatory trends, it newly defines challenging dark patterns that lie on the borderline between legality and illegality as 'borderline case dark patterns'. The study aims to contribute to design ethics by seeking solutions for these issues. To achieve this, it first conducts expert-focused research to identify improvements in borderline case dark patterns, then verifies these through user-focused studies, and finally integrates the findings to create a dark pattern design guideline toolkit.
In the first study, expert workshops and focus group interviews were conducted, including qualitative analysis with affinity diagrams, to develop solutions for borderline case dark patterns. Additionally, this study revealed personal characteristics and the ethical and commercial attitudes of designers towards dark patterns, highlighting the stance that both companies and designers should take against dark patterns.
In the second study, a survey was conducted among general users to validate the improvements identified in the first study. This involved quantitative analysis using statistical software to verify research questions and hypotheses. The first research question revealed a preference among users for improved UX/UI designs. The validation of these improvements established the reliability of the guidelines and underscored the effectiveness of the expert workshop approach. Additionally, it was found that individuals' awareness of dark patterns and ethical judgment criteria influence their evaluation of dark pattern designs. Lastly, the third research question highlighted the significance of behavior-inducing factors in design evaluation, suggesting their prioritization in future guidelines to prevent dark patterns.
In the third part of the research, a guideline toolkit was developed based on the outcomes of previous studies. This toolkit includes guidelines, instructions for companies, designers, and users, explanations and improvements for dark patterns, and related designs. It is designed in a card format, making it user-friendly and accessible for everyone from children to professionals. The toolkit serves as a practical tool for education and workshops, enhancing awareness and response strategies against dark patterns. Its significance lies in providing visual communication tools with important information on dark patterns.
Ultimately, this study focused on the practical aspects of design ethics, aiming to develop ethical guidelines for dark patterns. It is hoped that these guidelines will assist in improving dark pattern designs and contribute to the ethical advancement and development of domestic design practices.