Avoid deceptive practices for a positive user experience
In UX, deceptive patterns refer to design techniques or components that purposefully or accidentally mislead or trick users. Deceptive patterns can undermine user trust, hinder usability, and negatively impact the overall user experience even though the goal of UX design is to create transparent and reliable experiences. Avoiding such patterns and following ethical design principles are essential. Avoid the following deceptive patterns:
Transparent Membership Billing: Ensure that users are fully informed about membership charges and provide clear notifications before their free trial ends or before they are charged. Make it simple for users to understand and, if they so choose, to cancel their membership. Remove any obstacles upfront.
Clear Checkout Process: Avoid deceptive tactics such as pre-selecting additional items or services in a user’s shopping cart. Ensure that the checkout process is straightforward, with no surprises or hidden costs. Clearly state all pricing information up front, including taxes and shipping costs, and think about supplying a cost estimator tool.
Respectful Choices: Avoid guilt-inducing tactics like confirm-shaming that manipulate users into making choices they may not want. Use respectful and neutral language on buttons and confirmation screens, allowing users to make decisions based on their own preferences.
Thoughtful Urgency: While urgency can be used to highlight limited-time offers, avoid pressuring users into impulsive purchases. Make sure the urgency is necessary, based on availability or time-limited deals, as opposed to being fabricated to trick users.
Honest Availability Information: If you indicate limited stock or availability, do so accurately and without exaggeration. Avoid creating a false sense of scarcity to pressure users into making immediate purchases. Genuinely inform customers about a product's availability without resorting to tricks.
