unethical design

[/ʌnˈɛθɪkəl dɪˈzaɪn/]
nounpl: unethical designs
design antiético
1. A design practice or product that deliberately manipulates, deceives, or harms users to achieve business goals, disregarding moral principles and user welfare
Dark patterns in app design are considered unethical design because they trick users into making unwanted purchases.
Padrões obscuros no design de aplicativos são considerados design antiético porque enganam os usuários para fazer compras indesejadas.
2. Design decisions that prioritize profit or engagement over user autonomy, privacy, safety, or wellbeing
Hiding the unsubscribe button on a newsletter is an example of unethical design.
Esconder o botão de desinscrição em um boletim informativo é um exemplo de design antiético.
3. Intentional manipulation of user interfaces to exploit psychological vulnerabilities
Using infinite scroll without pause options demonstrates unethical design in social media.
Usar rolagem infinita sem opções de pausa demonstra design antiético em mídias sociais.
The term has gained significant prominence in both Brazilian and American tech communities since the 2010s, particularly following increased scrutiny of social media platforms and app developer practices. In Brazil, there is growing awareness through design conferences and tech communities in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. In the USA and NYC, 'dark patterns' is often the preferred term in tech culture. Ethical design is now a key topic in design education and corporate responsibility discussions in both countries.
NYC Slang
shady design / sketchy UX
Synonyms / Sinônimos
dark patternsdeceptive designmanipulative designdark UXpredatory design
Antonyms / Antônimos
ethical designuser-centered designtransparent designinclusive design

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
design antiético
Most common formal term used in design and tech communities
Rio de Janeiro
design antiético / design enganoso
Both terms are used; enganoso emphasizes deception aspect
São Paulo
design antiético / design manipulador
Tech hub uses both terms; manipulador emphasizes psychological manipulation
Portugal
design desonesto / design antiético
Desonesto is more commonly used in European Portuguese contexts

Related Words

dark patternsUX ethicsuser manipulationdeceptive practicesdigital ethicsaccessibilityuser experiencemoral design

Related Idioms & Phrases

playing dirty with design
bait-and-switch design
design that preys on users
dark side of UX
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