What Is This Project?

Learn why we're so obsessed with calling out dark patterns and their environmental impact.

Project Overview

1
Educational InitiativeThis project is part of the Master Digital Design (MDD) program at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HVA). Our goal is to develop an educational and interactive card game and website designed to help designers and digital product creators recognize, understand, and avoid dark patterns in their work.
2
Environmental FocusThe focus is on educating users about the environmental and ethical implications of deceptive design practices and encouraging sustainable decision-making.
3
Interactive LearningThrough gamification, designers will explore the sustainability impact of dark patterns, using real-world examples, reflections, and actionable design alternatives.

Our Mission

To create awareness about the environmental impact of dark patterns and empower designers to make more sustainable and ethical choices in their work, because the planet deserves better than our digital garbage.

Project Goals

1
Educate DesignersHelp designers recognize and understand different types of dark patterns and their impact.
2
Highlight Environmental ImpactDemonstrate how dark patterns contribute to digital waste and environmental harm.
3
Provide AlternativesOffer ethical and sustainable design alternatives to common dark patterns.
4
Create Engaging Learning ToolsDevelop interactive resources that make learning about ethical design engaging and memorable.

Why This Matters

Dark Patterns Are Everywhere

Deceptive design practices have become normalized across digital products, manipulating users and creating unnecessary digital waste.

Environmental Impact

Every unnecessary interaction, unwanted subscription, and manipulative design choice contributes to increased server loads, data transfer, and energy consumption.

Designers Have Power

Designers can make ethical choices that respect users and reduce environmental impact, creating a ethical choices that respect users and reduce environmental impact, creating a more sustainable digital ecosystem.