Working for large enterprises, it’s easy to fall into the trap of viewing users as mere numbers on an engagement platform. The intentional distance between designers and users can influence us to prioritize conversion over the user’s best interests. While I understand the importance of optimizing design for maximum ROI, I also recognize that this distance can lead to ethical concerns, which we refer to as “dark patterns” in our industry.

To narrow that intentional gap between myself and the users, I went back to my early days as a designer, fresh from college, diving headfirst into the industry, and unaware of the pitfalls. I recall in those days the desire to belong and be part of a larger community of other creators, to be inspired, and to learn from others’ journeys. This helped me avoid making self-serving decisions that could harm the users. This lesson was important because we are currently experiencing a phase in the tech industry where ethics and the handling of user data are at the forefront of social consciousness.