The Subtle Tricks of UI
A look at how subtle design choices can influence what we click, skip, or commit to. UX isn’t always neutral, and that’s what makes it worth paying attention to.
Published by Tyler Wagner on 5/3/2025
Ever clicked something you didn’t mean to?
That’s okay, you’re not alone. Sometimes, it’s a small trick. One button is loud and obnoxious while the other is quiet and hidden away. Even when you know it’s happening, you still fall for it. That’s what interests me so much about UX: it can grab your attention before your conscious mind realizes what’s happening.
What Do I Mean by a “UI Trick”?
Some interfaces are designed to guide you, others to push you.
The difference is subtle, but it matters.
I’m talking about things like giant “Accept All” buttons next to barely visible privacy settings. Or an unsubscribe action buried in a sea of gray hyperlinks. Maybe even a pre-checked “Sign me up for all your marketing emails!” box you didn’t notice.
These choices cannot be attributed to mistakes or lazy design. They’re intentional and made to influence how you behave.
They’re called dark patterns, but they don’t always feel that dark. Sometimes they’re just... slippery.
Why These Tricks Work
We like to think we’re in control when we use a website or app, even though most of the time we’re just skimming. Moving quickly and making snap decisions.
Dark patterns work because they take advantage of that speed. They lean on your innate sense of visual hierarchy, pattern recognition, and familiarity. If they can guide your attention just enough to get you to click before you stop to think, they’ve won.
Even when you do notice something feels off, it’s often easier to keep going than to stop and investigate. Taking advantage of that momentum is what dark patterns are all about.
So… What to Do About It?
The point isn’t to get paranoid, just to be more aware of your surroundings.
If you keep an eye out for these patterns you’ll start to notice them everywhere. That awareness makes it easier to pause before clicking the big shiny button, or to look for the small opt-out checkbox hiding in the corner.
As a developer, being aware of these patterns has made me think more carefully about the choices I make. The same techniques that deceive can also be used to build trust. That’s the part I want to lean into.