The Dilemma of Choice: How Design Shapes Consumer Decisions

Design: What is it about? At its core, it is meant to simplify flows, reduce friction, create experiences that feel effortless and ultimately make our lives easier. But somewhere along the way, design stopped being about usability. It became a smart and meticulously crafted system that shapes, guides and influences user choices, a strategy built to keep users hooked to the service. While that may still align with what good design strives to do, it is equally important to recognise the moment it blurs the line and turns manipulative. A manipulative design takes advantage of its users through subtle trickery, hidden beneath the illusion of a seamless experience.