Trompe-l’Oeil Still Life with a Flower Garland and a Curtain (1658) by Adriaen van der Spelt and Frans van Mieris isn’t just a display of skill—it’s a deception. Van der Spelt’s lush floral garland draws the eye with exquisite detail, while Van Mieris’ illusionistic blue curtain teases the viewer into believing it could be pulled aside.
When does design cross the line into deception?

r/AssholeDesign is a subreddit where users share examples of poor design choices that frustrate users. It’s a fun yet critical look at design fails, from confusing interfaces to illogical user flows.
I might be spending a bit too much time on r/assholedesign. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a subreddit where users share design choices that frustrate or deceive users. If you’re into design critique (or just enjoy a few laughs and facepalms), it’s definitely worth a look!
“Asshole design” is surprisingly easy to spot. It refers to certain design strategies that feel almost hostile to users—designs that trick, mislead, or make things unnecessarily difficult, all with the aim of manipulating user attention and behavior. These are often called “dark patterns” or “deceptive patterns.” At their core, they’re just… well, asshol-ish.
Reflecting on these patterns, I’ve started working on an evaluation matrix called “Is This Design Deceptive?”. It helps identify when a design might be crossing into deceptive territory, offering a structured framework to recognize and address tactics that prioritize business goals at the expense of user well-being.
Ultimately, good design isn’t just about making things easy to use—it’s about designing with integrity. If our role as designers is to shape experiences, we have a responsibility to question when those experiences start working against users rather than for them. Instead of designing to trap attention, what if we focused on fostering trust, clarity, and autonomy?
Maybe the best design isn’t the one that keeps people engaged at all costs, but the one that respects their time, choices, and well-being.

The Is This Design Deceptive? template helps identify and asses deceptive design patterns that may manipulate user attention and behavior. It provides a structured framework to help designers and stakeholders recognize and address tactics that excessively prioritize business goals at the expense of user well-being.

detail of Trompe-l’Oeil Still Life with a Flower Garland and a Curtain (1658).