Dark Patterns Symbiosis Bright Patterns
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Creating Barriers

Creating Barriers subverts the user’s expectation that relevant user tasks will be supported by the interface, instead preventing, abstracting, or otherwise complicating a user task to disincentive user action.
Creating Barriers
Illustration

Interaction Contexts

  • settings
  • account

Harmed Goals

  • control
  • time

Symbiosis

Bright alternatives to this dark pattern

  • Lean Processes
    Keep processes as simple and short as possible for the user.
    View pair →

Examples

Selfmade Example

User is required to buy an intermediate currency in order to optain the desired item.
User is required to buy an intermediate currency in order to optain the desired item.

Pattern Levels

High-Level Patterns Strategy Domain & Context Diagnostic (abstract)

High-level patterns include general strategies that can be employed through a range of modalities and technologies and application types

Meso-Level Patterns Angle of Attack Domain & Context Diagnostic (interpretable)

Meso-level patterns describe a context-agnostic angle of attack and may be interpreted in relation to context based on the specific modality or application type

Low-Level Patterns Means of Execution Domain & Context Specific (situated)

Low-level patterns are situated and contextually dependent, including specific means of execution

Diagram: High (strategy, diagnostic), Meso (angle of attack, still diagnostic), Low (means of execution, context specific). Integrated textual descriptions appear within each layer.

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Paul Bertram 2026
Impressum Datenschutz

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Sources

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Pattern Levels

High-Level Patterns Strategy Domain & Context Diagnostic (abstract)

High-level patterns include general strategies that can be employed through a range of modalities and technologies and application types

Meso-Level Patterns Angle of Attack Domain & Context Diagnostic (interpretable)

Meso-level patterns describe a context-agnostic angle of attack and may be interpreted in relation to context based on the specific modality or application type

Low-Level Patterns Means of Execution Domain & Context Specific (situated)

Low-level patterns are situated and contextually dependent, including specific means of execution

Diagram: High (strategy, diagnostic), Meso (angle of attack, still diagnostic), Low (means of execution, context specific). Integrated textual descriptions appear within each layer.