2025
Gray, Colin M; Mildner, Thomas; Gairola, Ritika
Getting Trapped in Amazon's ``Iliad Flow'': A Foundation for the Temporal Analysis of Dark Patterns Proceedings Article
In: CHI '25: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Proceedings, 2025.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Dark Patterns, Design Theory, Legal and Policy Perspectives, Research Methods, UX Knowledge
@inproceedings{Gray2025-rf,
title = {Getting Trapped in Amazon's ``Iliad Flow'': A Foundation for the Temporal Analysis of Dark Patterns},
author = {Colin M Gray and Thomas Mildner and Ritika Gairola},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3713828},
doi = {10.1145/3706598.3713828},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-04-01},
urldate = {2025-04-01},
booktitle = {CHI '25: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Proceedings},
abstract = {Dark patterns are ubiquitous in digital systems, impacting users
throughout their journeys on many popular apps and websites.
While substantial efforts from the research community in the last
five years have led to consolidated taxonomies of dark patterns,
including an emerging ontology, most applications of these
descriptors have been focused on analysis of static images or as
isolated pattern types. In this paper, we present a case study of
Amazon Prime's ``Iliad Flow'' to illustrate the interplay of dark
patterns across a user journey, grounded in insights from a US
Federal Trade Commission complaint against the company. We use
this case study to lay the groundwork for a methodology of
Temporal Analysis of Dark Patterns (TADP), including
considerations for characterization of individual dark patterns
across a user journey, combinatorial effects of multiple dark
patterns types, and implications for expert detection and
automated detection.},
keywords = {Dark Patterns, Design Theory, Legal and Policy Perspectives, Research Methods, UX Knowledge},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Dark patterns are ubiquitous in digital systems, impacting users
throughout their journeys on many popular apps and websites.
While substantial efforts from the research community in the last
five years have led to consolidated taxonomies of dark patterns,
including an emerging ontology, most applications of these
descriptors have been focused on analysis of static images or as
isolated pattern types. In this paper, we present a case study of
Amazon Prime's ``Iliad Flow'' to illustrate the interplay of dark
patterns across a user journey, grounded in insights from a US
Federal Trade Commission complaint against the company. We use
this case study to lay the groundwork for a methodology of
Temporal Analysis of Dark Patterns (TADP), including
considerations for characterization of individual dark patterns
across a user journey, combinatorial effects of multiple dark
patterns types, and implications for expert detection and
automated detection.
throughout their journeys on many popular apps and websites.
While substantial efforts from the research community in the last
five years have led to consolidated taxonomies of dark patterns,
including an emerging ontology, most applications of these
descriptors have been focused on analysis of static images or as
isolated pattern types. In this paper, we present a case study of
Amazon Prime's ``Iliad Flow'' to illustrate the interplay of dark
patterns across a user journey, grounded in insights from a US
Federal Trade Commission complaint against the company. We use
this case study to lay the groundwork for a methodology of
Temporal Analysis of Dark Patterns (TADP), including
considerations for characterization of individual dark patterns
across a user journey, combinatorial effects of multiple dark
patterns types, and implications for expert detection and
automated detection.
Henriques, Ana O; Carter, Anna R L; Severes, Beatriz; Talhouk, Reem; Strohmayer, Angelika; Pires, Ana Cristina; Gray, Colin M; Montague, Kyle; Nicolau, Hugo
A Feminist Care Ethics Toolkit for Community-Based Design: Bridging Theory and Practice Honorable Mention Proceedings Article
In: CHI '25: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Proceedings, Association for Computing Machinery, 2025.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Critical Theory, Design Methods, Design Theory, Digital Civics, Research Methods
@inproceedings{Henriques2025-cb,
title = {A Feminist Care Ethics Toolkit for Community-Based Design: Bridging Theory and Practice},
author = {Ana O Henriques and Anna R L Carter and Beatriz Severes and Reem Talhouk and Angelika Strohmayer and Ana Cristina Pires and Colin M Gray and Kyle Montague and Hugo Nicolau},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/3706598.3713950},
doi = {10.1145/3706598.3713950},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-01},
urldate = {2025-01-01},
booktitle = {CHI '25: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Proceedings},
publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
abstract = {Existing ethics frameworks for participatory engagement in HCI
of- ten overlook the nuanced ethical challenges of dynamic
community- based contexts given the latter’s relational nature.
We hope to bridge this gap by grounding feminist care ethics in
actionable tools for community-based projects to enhance ethical
engagement in these settings. Prior research advocates for
adaptable, context- sensitive ethics in participatory research,
informed by feminist care ethics. To address this need, we
developed and iteratively re- fined a toolkit embodying the
underlying principles of feminist care ethics through workshops
with participants working in aca- demic and non-academic
community-based settings. Our findings suggest that the toolkit
fosters ethical reflection aligned with the feminist care ethics
ethos while facilitating meaningful experiences for participants.
This work contributes to the field by offering a practical design
artefact that not only embodies feminist care ethics but also
supports researchers and communities in navigating com- plex
ethical landscapes in participatory engagements, together or
independently.},
keywords = {Critical Theory, Design Methods, Design Theory, Digital Civics, Research Methods},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Existing ethics frameworks for participatory engagement in HCI
of- ten overlook the nuanced ethical challenges of dynamic
community- based contexts given the latter’s relational nature.
We hope to bridge this gap by grounding feminist care ethics in
actionable tools for community-based projects to enhance ethical
engagement in these settings. Prior research advocates for
adaptable, context- sensitive ethics in participatory research,
informed by feminist care ethics. To address this need, we
developed and iteratively re- fined a toolkit embodying the
underlying principles of feminist care ethics through workshops
with participants working in aca- demic and non-academic
community-based settings. Our findings suggest that the toolkit
fosters ethical reflection aligned with the feminist care ethics
ethos while facilitating meaningful experiences for participants.
This work contributes to the field by offering a practical design
artefact that not only embodies feminist care ethics but also
supports researchers and communities in navigating com- plex
ethical landscapes in participatory engagements, together or
independently.
of- ten overlook the nuanced ethical challenges of dynamic
community- based contexts given the latter’s relational nature.
We hope to bridge this gap by grounding feminist care ethics in
actionable tools for community-based projects to enhance ethical
engagement in these settings. Prior research advocates for
adaptable, context- sensitive ethics in participatory research,
informed by feminist care ethics. To address this need, we
developed and iteratively re- fined a toolkit embodying the
underlying principles of feminist care ethics through workshops
with participants working in aca- demic and non-academic
community-based settings. Our findings suggest that the toolkit
fosters ethical reflection aligned with the feminist care ethics
ethos while facilitating meaningful experiences for participants.
This work contributes to the field by offering a practical design
artefact that not only embodies feminist care ethics but also
supports researchers and communities in navigating com- plex
ethical landscapes in participatory engagements, together or
independently.
2024
Henriques, Ana O; Nicolau, Hugo; Carter, Anna R L; Montague, Kyle; Talhouk, Reem; Strohmayer, Angelika; Rüller, Sarah; MacArthur, Cayley; Bardzell, Shaowen; Gray, Colin M; Fournier-Tombs, Eleonore
Fostering Feminist Community-Led Ethics: Building Tools and Connections Proceedings Article
In: Proceedings of the 2024 ACM Conference Companion Publication on Designing Interactive Systems, Association for Computing Machinery, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Care Ethics, Critical Theory, Design Methods, Ethics and Values, Research Methods
@inproceedings{Henriques2024-lk,
title = {Fostering Feminist Community-Led Ethics: Building Tools and Connections},
author = {Ana O Henriques and Hugo Nicolau and Anna R L Carter and Kyle Montague and Reem Talhouk and Angelika Strohmayer and Sarah Rüller and Cayley MacArthur and Shaowen Bardzell and Colin M Gray and Eleonore Fournier-Tombs},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3656156.3658385
https://colingray.me/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024_Henriquesetal_DIS_Workshop_FeministCommunityLedEthics.pdf},
doi = {10.1145/3656156.3658385},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-01},
urldate = {2024-07-01},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2024 ACM Conference Companion Publication
on Designing Interactive Systems},
publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery},
abstract = {This workshop proposal advocates for a dynamic, community-led
approach to ethics in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) by inte-
grating principles from feminist HCI and digital civics.
Traditional ethics in HCI often overlook interpersonal
considerations, result- ing in static frameworks ill-equipped to
address dynamic social contexts and power dynamics. Drawing from
feminist perspectives, the workshop aims to lay the groundwork
for developing a meta-toolkit for community-led feminist ethics,
fostering collaborative research practices grounded in feminist
ethical principles. Through pre-workshop activities, interactive
sessions, and post- workshop discussions, participants will
engage in dialogue to advance community-led ethical research
practices. Additionally, the workshop seeks to strengthen the
interdisciplinary community of researchers and practitioners
interested in ethics, digital civics, and feminist HCI. By
fostering a reflexive approach to ethics, the workshop
contributes to the discourse on design's role in shaping future
interactions between individuals, communities, and technology.},
keywords = {Care Ethics, Critical Theory, Design Methods, Ethics and Values, Research Methods},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
This workshop proposal advocates for a dynamic, community-led
approach to ethics in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) by inte-
grating principles from feminist HCI and digital civics.
Traditional ethics in HCI often overlook interpersonal
considerations, result- ing in static frameworks ill-equipped to
address dynamic social contexts and power dynamics. Drawing from
feminist perspectives, the workshop aims to lay the groundwork
for developing a meta-toolkit for community-led feminist ethics,
fostering collaborative research practices grounded in feminist
ethical principles. Through pre-workshop activities, interactive
sessions, and post- workshop discussions, participants will
engage in dialogue to advance community-led ethical research
practices. Additionally, the workshop seeks to strengthen the
interdisciplinary community of researchers and practitioners
interested in ethics, digital civics, and feminist HCI. By
fostering a reflexive approach to ethics, the workshop
contributes to the discourse on design's role in shaping future
interactions between individuals, communities, and technology.
approach to ethics in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) by inte-
grating principles from feminist HCI and digital civics.
Traditional ethics in HCI often overlook interpersonal
considerations, result- ing in static frameworks ill-equipped to
address dynamic social contexts and power dynamics. Drawing from
feminist perspectives, the workshop aims to lay the groundwork
for developing a meta-toolkit for community-led feminist ethics,
fostering collaborative research practices grounded in feminist
ethical principles. Through pre-workshop activities, interactive
sessions, and post- workshop discussions, participants will
engage in dialogue to advance community-led ethical research
practices. Additionally, the workshop seeks to strengthen the
interdisciplinary community of researchers and practitioners
interested in ethics, digital civics, and feminist HCI. By
fostering a reflexive approach to ethics, the workshop
contributes to the discourse on design's role in shaping future
interactions between individuals, communities, and technology.
Gray, Colin M; Gunawan, Johanna; Schäfer, René; Bielova, Nataliia; Chamorro, Lorena Sánchez; Seaborn, Katie; Mildner, Thomas; Sandhaus, Hauke (Ed.)
DDPCHI 2024 Mobilizing Research and Regulatory Action on Dark Patterns and Deceptive Design Practices 2024 Proceedings Article
In: Gray, Colin M; Gunawan, Johanna; Schäfer, René; Bielova, Nataliia; Chamorro, Lorena Sánchez; Seaborn, Katie; Mildner, Thomas; Sandhaus, Hauke (Ed.): CEUR Workshop Proceedings, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Dark Patterns, Design Methods, Legal and Policy Perspectives, Practice-Led Research, Regulation, Research Methods, UX Practice
@inproceedings{Gray2024-fq,
title = {DDPCHI 2024 Mobilizing Research and Regulatory Action on Dark Patterns and Deceptive Design Practices 2024},
editor = {Colin M Gray and Johanna Gunawan and René Schäfer and Nataliia Bielova and Lorena Sánchez Chamorro and Katie Seaborn and Thomas Mildner and Hauke Sandhaus},
url = {https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3720/},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-01},
urldate = {2024-07-01},
publisher = {CEUR Workshop Proceedings},
abstract = {Proceedings of the Workshop Mobilizing Research and Regulatory
Action on Dark Patterns and Deceptive Design Practices (DDPCHI
2024) co-located with the CHI Conference on Human Factors in
Computing Systems (CHI 2024) Hybrid Event, Honolulu, HI, USA, May
11-16, 2024.},
keywords = {Dark Patterns, Design Methods, Legal and Policy Perspectives, Practice-Led Research, Regulation, Research Methods, UX Practice},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Proceedings of the Workshop Mobilizing Research and Regulatory
Action on Dark Patterns and Deceptive Design Practices (DDPCHI
2024) co-located with the CHI Conference on Human Factors in
Computing Systems (CHI 2024) Hybrid Event, Honolulu, HI, USA, May
11-16, 2024.
Action on Dark Patterns and Deceptive Design Practices (DDPCHI
2024) co-located with the CHI Conference on Human Factors in
Computing Systems (CHI 2024) Hybrid Event, Honolulu, HI, USA, May
11-16, 2024.
Chivukula, Shruthi Sai; Gray, Colin M
Quant-Ethico: An Approach to Quantifying and Interpreting Ethical Decision Making Proceedings Article
In: Gray, Colin (Ed.): DRS2024: Boston, Design Research Society, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Design Theory, Ethics and Values, Research Methods
@inproceedings{Chivukula2024-sj,
title = {Quant-Ethico: An Approach to Quantifying and Interpreting Ethical Decision Making},
author = {Shruthi Sai Chivukula and Colin M Gray},
editor = {Colin Gray},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.223
https://colingray.me/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024_ChivukulaGray_DRS_QuantEthico.pdf},
doi = {10.21606/drs.2024.223},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-06-01},
urldate = {2024-06-01},
booktitle = {DRS2024: Boston},
publisher = {Design Research Society},
abstract = {Design researchers have previously sought to describe, model,
and represent the cognitive processes of designers. In parallel,
researchers in HCI and STS have identified a range of frameworks
to describe the ethical and value-related char-acter of design
activity. We have identified a productive gap between these two
sets of literature—namely, the role of analytic methods in
describing ethical de-cision-making as one aspect of design
complexity. In this paper, we describe and explore an approach
for quantifying the ethical character of design decision-making,
building upon existing critical approaches from HCI and STS
literature. Through a series of visualizations at varying
temporal scales and numbers of inter-locutors, we seek to
describe the ethical complexity of design activity, grounded in
a set of ethically focused lab protocol studies. We describe the
implications of our approach for mixed methods researchers,
including the role of quantitative methods in describing
temporal aspects of ethical design complexity.},
keywords = {Design Theory, Ethics and Values, Research Methods},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
Design researchers have previously sought to describe, model,
and represent the cognitive processes of designers. In parallel,
researchers in HCI and STS have identified a range of frameworks
to describe the ethical and value-related char-acter of design
activity. We have identified a productive gap between these two
sets of literature—namely, the role of analytic methods in
describing ethical de-cision-making as one aspect of design
complexity. In this paper, we describe and explore an approach
for quantifying the ethical character of design decision-making,
building upon existing critical approaches from HCI and STS
literature. Through a series of visualizations at varying
temporal scales and numbers of inter-locutors, we seek to
describe the ethical complexity of design activity, grounded in
a set of ethically focused lab protocol studies. We describe the
implications of our approach for mixed methods researchers,
including the role of quantitative methods in describing
temporal aspects of ethical design complexity.
and represent the cognitive processes of designers. In parallel,
researchers in HCI and STS have identified a range of frameworks
to describe the ethical and value-related char-acter of design
activity. We have identified a productive gap between these two
sets of literature—namely, the role of analytic methods in
describing ethical de-cision-making as one aspect of design
complexity. In this paper, we describe and explore an approach
for quantifying the ethical character of design decision-making,
building upon existing critical approaches from HCI and STS
literature. Through a series of visualizations at varying
temporal scales and numbers of inter-locutors, we seek to
describe the ethical complexity of design activity, grounded in
a set of ethically focused lab protocol studies. We describe the
implications of our approach for mixed methods researchers,
including the role of quantitative methods in describing
temporal aspects of ethical design complexity.
Bielova, Nataliia; Santos, Cristiana; Gray, Colin M
Two worlds apart! Closing the gap between regulating EU consent and user studies Journal Article
In: Harvard Journal of Law & Technology, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 1295–1333, 2024.
Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Consent Banners, Dark Patterns, Legal and Policy Perspectives, Regulation, Research Methods, UX Knowledge
@article{Bielova2024-zr,
title = {Two worlds apart! Closing the gap between regulating EU consent and user studies},
author = {Nataliia Bielova and Cristiana Santos and Colin M Gray},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-01-01},
urldate = {2024-01-01},
journal = {Harvard Journal of Law & Technology},
volume = {37},
number = {3},
pages = {1295–1333},
abstract = {The EU ePrivacy Directive requires consent before using cookies
or other tracking technologies, while the EU General Data
Protection Regulation (``GDPR'') sets high-level and
principle-based requirements for such consent to be valid.
However, the translation of such requirements into concrete
design interfaces for consent banners is far from
straightforward. This situation has given rise to the use of
manipulative tactics in user experience (``UX''), commonly known
as dark patterns, which influence users' decision-making and may
violate the GDPR requirements for valid consent. To address this
problem, EU regulators aim to interpret GDPR requirements and to
limit the design space of consent banners within their
guidelines. Academic researchers from various disciplines address
the same problem by performing user studies to evaluate the
impact of design and dark patterns on users' decision making.
Regrettably, the guidelines and user studies rarely impact each
other. In this Essay, we collected and analyzed seventeen
official guidelines issued by EU regulators and the EU Data
Protection Board (``EDPB''), as well as eleven consent-focused
empirical user studies which we thoroughly studied from a User
Interface (``UI'') design perspective. We identified numerous
gaps between consent banner designs recommended by regulators and
those evaluated in user studies. By doing so, we contribute to
both the regulatory discourse and future user studies. We
pinpoint EU regulatory inconsistencies and provide actionable
recommendations for regulators. For academic scholars, we
synthesize insights on design elements discussed by regulators
requiring further user study evaluations. Finally, we recommend
that EDPB and EU regulators, alongside usability, Human-Computer
Interaction (``HCI''), and design researchers, engage in
transdisciplinary dialogue in order to close the gap between EU
guidelines and user studies.},
keywords = {Consent Banners, Dark Patterns, Legal and Policy Perspectives, Regulation, Research Methods, UX Knowledge},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The EU ePrivacy Directive requires consent before using cookies
or other tracking technologies, while the EU General Data
Protection Regulation (``GDPR'') sets high-level and
principle-based requirements for such consent to be valid.
However, the translation of such requirements into concrete
design interfaces for consent banners is far from
straightforward. This situation has given rise to the use of
manipulative tactics in user experience (``UX''), commonly known
as dark patterns, which influence users' decision-making and may
violate the GDPR requirements for valid consent. To address this
problem, EU regulators aim to interpret GDPR requirements and to
limit the design space of consent banners within their
guidelines. Academic researchers from various disciplines address
the same problem by performing user studies to evaluate the
impact of design and dark patterns on users' decision making.
Regrettably, the guidelines and user studies rarely impact each
other. In this Essay, we collected and analyzed seventeen
official guidelines issued by EU regulators and the EU Data
Protection Board (``EDPB''), as well as eleven consent-focused
empirical user studies which we thoroughly studied from a User
Interface (``UI'') design perspective. We identified numerous
gaps between consent banner designs recommended by regulators and
those evaluated in user studies. By doing so, we contribute to
both the regulatory discourse and future user studies. We
pinpoint EU regulatory inconsistencies and provide actionable
recommendations for regulators. For academic scholars, we
synthesize insights on design elements discussed by regulators
requiring further user study evaluations. Finally, we recommend
that EDPB and EU regulators, alongside usability, Human-Computer
Interaction (``HCI''), and design researchers, engage in
transdisciplinary dialogue in order to close the gap between EU
guidelines and user studies.
or other tracking technologies, while the EU General Data
Protection Regulation (``GDPR'') sets high-level and
principle-based requirements for such consent to be valid.
However, the translation of such requirements into concrete
design interfaces for consent banners is far from
straightforward. This situation has given rise to the use of
manipulative tactics in user experience (``UX''), commonly known
as dark patterns, which influence users' decision-making and may
violate the GDPR requirements for valid consent. To address this
problem, EU regulators aim to interpret GDPR requirements and to
limit the design space of consent banners within their
guidelines. Academic researchers from various disciplines address
the same problem by performing user studies to evaluate the
impact of design and dark patterns on users' decision making.
Regrettably, the guidelines and user studies rarely impact each
other. In this Essay, we collected and analyzed seventeen
official guidelines issued by EU regulators and the EU Data
Protection Board (``EDPB''), as well as eleven consent-focused
empirical user studies which we thoroughly studied from a User
Interface (``UI'') design perspective. We identified numerous
gaps between consent banner designs recommended by regulators and
those evaluated in user studies. By doing so, we contribute to
both the regulatory discourse and future user studies. We
pinpoint EU regulatory inconsistencies and provide actionable
recommendations for regulators. For academic scholars, we
synthesize insights on design elements discussed by regulators
requiring further user study evaluations. Finally, we recommend
that EDPB and EU regulators, alongside usability, Human-Computer
Interaction (``HCI''), and design researchers, engage in
transdisciplinary dialogue in order to close the gap between EU
guidelines and user studies.
2023
Gray, Colin M; Mildner, Thomas; Bielova, Nataliia
Arxiv Preprint, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Dark Patterns, Ethics and Values, Legal and Policy Perspectives, Regulation, Research Methods
@unpublished{Gray2023-bs,
title = {Temporal Analysis of Dark Patterns: A Case Study of a User's Odyssey to Conquer Prime Membership Cancellation through the "Iliad Flow"},
author = {Colin M Gray and Thomas Mildner and Nataliia Bielova},
url = {http://arxiv.org/abs/2309.09635},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-09-01},
urldate = {2023-09-01},
abstract = {Dark patterns are ubiquitous in digital systems, impacting
users throughout their journeys on many popular apps and
websites. While substantial efforts from the research
community in the last five years have led to consolidated
taxonomies of dark patterns, including an emerging ontology,
most applications of these descriptors have been focused on
analysis of static images or as isolated pattern types. In
this paper, we present a case study of Amazon Prime's
``Iliad Flow'' to illustrate the interplay of dark patterns
across a user journey, grounded in insights from a US
Federal Trade Commission complaint against the company. We
use this case study to lay the groundwork for a methodology
of Temporal Analysis of Dark Patterns (TADP), including
considerations for characterization of individual dark
patterns across a user journey, combinatorial effects of
multiple dark patterns types, and implications for expert
detection and automated detection.},
howpublished = {Arxiv Preprint},
keywords = {Dark Patterns, Ethics and Values, Legal and Policy Perspectives, Regulation, Research Methods},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {unpublished}
}
Dark patterns are ubiquitous in digital systems, impacting
users throughout their journeys on many popular apps and
websites. While substantial efforts from the research
community in the last five years have led to consolidated
taxonomies of dark patterns, including an emerging ontology,
most applications of these descriptors have been focused on
analysis of static images or as isolated pattern types. In
this paper, we present a case study of Amazon Prime's
``Iliad Flow'' to illustrate the interplay of dark patterns
across a user journey, grounded in insights from a US
Federal Trade Commission complaint against the company. We
use this case study to lay the groundwork for a methodology
of Temporal Analysis of Dark Patterns (TADP), including
considerations for characterization of individual dark
patterns across a user journey, combinatorial effects of
multiple dark patterns types, and implications for expert
detection and automated detection.
users throughout their journeys on many popular apps and
websites. While substantial efforts from the research
community in the last five years have led to consolidated
taxonomies of dark patterns, including an emerging ontology,
most applications of these descriptors have been focused on
analysis of static images or as isolated pattern types. In
this paper, we present a case study of Amazon Prime's
``Iliad Flow'' to illustrate the interplay of dark patterns
across a user journey, grounded in insights from a US
Federal Trade Commission complaint against the company. We
use this case study to lay the groundwork for a methodology
of Temporal Analysis of Dark Patterns (TADP), including
considerations for characterization of individual dark
patterns across a user journey, combinatorial effects of
multiple dark patterns types, and implications for expert
detection and automated detection.
2022
Gray, Colin M
Building an Ethnographic Toolbox: Engaging Analog and Digital Tools in Virtual and Physical Spaces Journal Article
In: TechTrends, vol. 66, no. 1, pp. 56–67, 2022, ISSN: 1559-7075.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Critical Theory, Design Education, Instructional Design, Research Methods
@article{Gray2022-bj,
title = {Building an Ethnographic Toolbox: Engaging Analog and Digital Tools in Virtual and Physical Spaces},
author = {Colin M Gray},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-021-00680-y},
doi = {10.1007/s11528-021-00680-y},
issn = {1559-7075},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
journal = {TechTrends},
volume = {66},
number = {1},
pages = {56--67},
abstract = {Studio pedagogy has been used as a comprehensive approach to
prepare students to practice within their chosen discipline of
design. However, little is known about how students experience
these learning environments, including the interplay of social
and educational experiences that support the development of
expertise and identity. To explore and evaluate this complexity,
I used a critical ethnographic approach to immerse myself for one
year in a physical studio and set of Facebook groups, which in
parallel supported students' learning experience. I describe the
``ethnographic toolbox'' that I built and utilized to inform
interpretations of the physical and virtual learning
environments. This toolbox included analog and digital tools,
along with many forms of sensemaking, archiving, and engagement
with metadata that both structured and enabled my role as an
ethnographer. I describe the set of tools, and use vignettes to
illustrate how these tools were used in physical and virtual
environments.},
keywords = {Critical Theory, Design Education, Instructional Design, Research Methods},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Studio pedagogy has been used as a comprehensive approach to
prepare students to practice within their chosen discipline of
design. However, little is known about how students experience
these learning environments, including the interplay of social
and educational experiences that support the development of
expertise and identity. To explore and evaluate this complexity,
I used a critical ethnographic approach to immerse myself for one
year in a physical studio and set of Facebook groups, which in
parallel supported students' learning experience. I describe the
``ethnographic toolbox'' that I built and utilized to inform
interpretations of the physical and virtual learning
environments. This toolbox included analog and digital tools,
along with many forms of sensemaking, archiving, and engagement
with metadata that both structured and enabled my role as an
ethnographer. I describe the set of tools, and use vignettes to
illustrate how these tools were used in physical and virtual
environments.
prepare students to practice within their chosen discipline of
design. However, little is known about how students experience
these learning environments, including the interplay of social
and educational experiences that support the development of
expertise and identity. To explore and evaluate this complexity,
I used a critical ethnographic approach to immerse myself for one
year in a physical studio and set of Facebook groups, which in
parallel supported students' learning experience. I describe the
``ethnographic toolbox'' that I built and utilized to inform
interpretations of the physical and virtual learning
environments. This toolbox included analog and digital tools,
along with many forms of sensemaking, archiving, and engagement
with metadata that both structured and enabled my role as an
ethnographer. I describe the set of tools, and use vignettes to
illustrate how these tools were used in physical and virtual
environments.
Light, Ann; Gray, Colin M; Lindström, Kristina; Forlano, Laura; Lockton, Dan; Speed, Chris
Designing Transformative Futures Proceedings Article
In: Proceedings of the Design Research Society Conference, Bilbao, Spain, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Critical Theory, Design Methods, Ethics and Values, Research Methods
@inproceedings{Light2022-cj,
title = {Designing Transformative Futures},
author = {Ann Light and Colin M Gray and Kristina Lindström and Laura Forlano and Dan Lockton and Chris Speed},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.21606/drs.2022.896
https://colingray.me/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022_Lightetal_DRS_DesigningTransformativeFutures.pdf},
doi = {10.21606/drs.2022.896},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-01-01},
urldate = {2022-01-01},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the Design Research Society Conference},
address = {Bilbao, Spain},
abstract = {What makes the design of futures sufficiently transformative?
Worldwide, people are aware of the need to change and keep
changing to address eco-social challenges and their fall-out in
an age of crises and transitions in climate, biodiversity, and
health. Calls for climate justice and the development of
eco-social sensibilities speak to the need for dynamic and
provisional engagements. Such concerns raise age-old issues of
inequality and colonialist destruction. Our designs carry the
imprint of this current politics, wittingly or unwittingly, into
worlds to come. This conversation asked how might we respond
fluidly to coming uncertainties, questioning our own practices
to sow the seeds of more radical transformation, while
recognizing the structural forces that can limit or temper
opportunities for design activism. It was organized in three
quadrant exercises, which we also reflect upon.},
keywords = {Critical Theory, Design Methods, Ethics and Values, Research Methods},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
What makes the design of futures sufficiently transformative?
Worldwide, people are aware of the need to change and keep
changing to address eco-social challenges and their fall-out in
an age of crises and transitions in climate, biodiversity, and
health. Calls for climate justice and the development of
eco-social sensibilities speak to the need for dynamic and
provisional engagements. Such concerns raise age-old issues of
inequality and colonialist destruction. Our designs carry the
imprint of this current politics, wittingly or unwittingly, into
worlds to come. This conversation asked how might we respond
fluidly to coming uncertainties, questioning our own practices
to sow the seeds of more radical transformation, while
recognizing the structural forces that can limit or temper
opportunities for design activism. It was organized in three
quadrant exercises, which we also reflect upon.
Worldwide, people are aware of the need to change and keep
changing to address eco-social challenges and their fall-out in
an age of crises and transitions in climate, biodiversity, and
health. Calls for climate justice and the development of
eco-social sensibilities speak to the need for dynamic and
provisional engagements. Such concerns raise age-old issues of
inequality and colonialist destruction. Our designs carry the
imprint of this current politics, wittingly or unwittingly, into
worlds to come. This conversation asked how might we respond
fluidly to coming uncertainties, questioning our own practices
to sow the seeds of more radical transformation, while
recognizing the structural forces that can limit or temper
opportunities for design activism. It was organized in three
quadrant exercises, which we also reflect upon.
2016
Gray, Colin M; Toombs, Austin L; McKay, Christian
Meaning Reconstruction As an Approach to Analyze Critical Dimensions of HCI Research Proceedings Article
In: Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI EA '16, pp. 328-340, ACM, San Jose, California, USA, 2016, ISBN: 9781450340823.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Critical Theory, Research Methods
@inproceedings{Gray2016-gx,
title = {Meaning Reconstruction As an Approach to Analyze Critical Dimensions of HCI Research},
author = {Colin M Gray and Austin L Toombs and Christian McKay},
url = {https://colingray.me/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/2016_GrayToombsMcKay_CHI_MeaningReconstruction.pdf
http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/2851581.2892571},
doi = {10.1145/2851581.2892571},
isbn = {9781450340823},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI EA '16},
pages = {328-340},
publisher = {ACM},
address = {San Jose, California, USA},
series = {CHI EA '16},
abstract = {A critical tradition has taken hold in HCI, yet research methods needed to meaningfully engage with critical questions in the qualitative tradition are nascent. In this paper, we explore one critical qualitative research approach that allows researchers to probe deeply into the relationships between communicative acts and social structures. Meaning reconstruction methods are described and illustrated using examples from HCI research, demonstrating how social norms can be traced as they are claimed and reproduced. We conclude with implications for strengthening rigorous critical inquiry in HCI research, including the use of extant critical research methods to document transparency and thick description.},
keywords = {Critical Theory, Research Methods},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}
A critical tradition has taken hold in HCI, yet research methods needed to meaningfully engage with critical questions in the qualitative tradition are nascent. In this paper, we explore one critical qualitative research approach that allows researchers to probe deeply into the relationships between communicative acts and social structures. Meaning reconstruction methods are described and illustrated using examples from HCI research, demonstrating how social norms can be traced as they are claimed and reproduced. We conclude with implications for strengthening rigorous critical inquiry in HCI research, including the use of extant critical research methods to document transparency and thick description.