Moments into completing the survey I realized the website’s GUI was intentionally designed to manipulate my responses, making even simple tasks frustrating and counterintuitive. As someone with ADHD, this was extremely difficult for me. It played on common user expectations by reversing familiar conventions, such as swapping the usual order of email and password fields – forcing me to second-guess my instincts. The misleading colour scheme was another major obstacle; green, typically associated with “yes” or “go,” instead indicated the opposite, leading to unnecessary errors.
When inputting my personal information, having to backspace existing characters only added to the confusion, forcing me to repeatedly correct mistakes I hadn’t intended to make. The flashing numbers further distracted me, pulling my attention away from the task I needed to complete. The countdown timer amplified the pressure, making me feel rushed and increasing the likelihood of mistakes. Every time I hesitated or got something wrong, I was locked out, creating a cycle of frustration and anxiety. When I finally managed to complete the login process, I was met with an error message telling me my password was “not unsafe,” preventing me from proceeding. Seeking assistance, I turned to the AI help chat, only for it to start moving erratically across the screen before disappearing entirely.
At this point, I gave up because it became too difficult for me to focus on what was being asked of me. The constant distractions and confusing design overwhelmed my ability to engage with the task. According to Brignull, “deception is evident in various guises in user interfaces on the web today” (2011), and this site certainly fit that description. Furthermore, the website manipulated me into making mistakes, wasting time, and experiencing unnecessary stress. Given my attention challenges, this experience felt less like a simple survey process and more like an escape room! haha
Brignull, H., (2011). Dark Patterns: Deception vs. Honesty in UI Design. Retrieved from: https://alistapart.com/article/dark-patterns-deception-vs-honesty-in-ui-design/