Beyond Dark Patterns: A Concept-Based Framework for Software Design Ethics

We present a framework of dark patterns grounded in user expectations. In contrast to prior approaches that treat design techniques as inherently either good or bad, we analyze mismatched user expectations for application behavior using concepts -- reusable units of functionality that users encounter across applications. We define a design as dark when its concepts violate users' expectations, and benefit the provider of the application at the user's expense. Though user expectations can differ, leading to subjective perceptions of the ethics of an interface, users tend to develop common expectations as they encounter the same concepts repeatedly across multiple applications. This reuse results in users having shared expectations of concept functionality, which we can record as standard concepts. Through case studies, we illustrate how concept analysis helps designers identify, compare, and resolve dark patterns. We suggest a shift away from dark pattern taxonomies toward more systematic, actionable accounts of interface design ethics