How to cite this website

This website has changed substantially over the years, with different authors at different times. Choose the version you want to cite, then copy the reference in your preferred style.

Today20232011

The current version of this site (last major update June 2026), maintained by Harry Brignull and Mark Leiser.

APA

Brignull, H., & Leiser, M. (2026, June 15). Deceptive patterns – user interfaces designed to trick you. deceptive.design. Retrieved June 15, 2026, from https://www.deceptive.design/

Parenthetical: (Brignull & Leiser, 2026)
Narrative: Brignull and Leiser (2026)

BibTeX

@misc{brignull-leiser-2026, author = {Brignull, H and Leiser, M}, month = {6}, title = {{Deceptive patterns – user interfaces designed to trick you}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.deceptive.design/}, }

BibLaTeX

@online{brignull-leiser-2026, author = {given-i=H, family=Brignull and given=M, family=Leiser}, date = {2026-06-15}, title = {Deceptive patterns – user interfaces designed to trick you}, url = {https://www.deceptive.design/}, urldate = {2026-06-15}, }

MLA

Brignull, Harry, and Mark Leiser. “Deceptive Patterns – User Interfaces Designed to Trick You.” deceptive.design, 15 Jun. 2026, deceptive.design. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

Parenthetical: (Brignull and Leiser)
Narrative: Brignull and Leiser

Harvard

Brignull, H & Leiser, M, 'Deceptive Design' (2026) https://www.deceptive.design/ accessed 15 June 2026

In 2023, a new legal enforcement database was added to the website, created by Mark Leiser, Cristiana Santos and Kosha Doshi.

APA

Brignull, H., Leiser, M., Santos, C., & Doshi, K. (2023). Deceptive patterns – user interfaces designed to trick you. deceptive.design. https://www.deceptive.design/

Parenthetical: (Brignull et al., 2023)
Narrative: Brignull et al. (2023)

BibTeX

@misc{brignull-2023, author = {Brignull, H and Leiser, M and Santos, C and Doshi, K}, title = {{Deceptive patterns – user interfaces designed to trick you}}, year = {2023}, url = {https://www.deceptive.design/}, }

BibLaTeX

@online{brignull-2023, author = {given-i=H, family=Brignull and given=M, family=Leiser and given=C, family=Santos and given-i=K, family=Doshi}, date = {2023}, title = {Deceptive patterns – user interfaces designed to trick you}, url = {https://www.deceptive.design/}, }

MLA

Brignull, Harry, et al. “Deceptive Patterns – User Interfaces Designed to Trick You.” deceptive.design, 2023, deceptive.design.

Parenthetical: (Brignull et al.)
Narrative: Brignull et al.

Harvard

Brignull, H, Leiser, M, Santos, C & Doshi, K, 'Deceptive Design' (2023) https://www.deceptive.design/

The original site (then darkpatterns.org), founded by Harry Brignull and archived at old.deceptive.design.

APA

Brignull, H. (2011). Dark patterns. https://old.deceptive.design/

Parenthetical: (Brignull, 2011)
Narrative: Brignull (2011)

BibTeX

@misc{brignull-2011, author = {Brignull, H}, title = {{Dark patterns}}, year = {2011}, url = {https://old.deceptive.design/}, }

BibLaTeX

@online{brignull-2011, author = {given-i=H, family=Brignull}, date = {2011}, title = {Dark patterns}, url = {https://old.deceptive.design/}, }

MLA

Brignull, Harry. “Dark Patterns.” old.deceptive.design, 2011, old.deceptive.design.

Parenthetical: (Brignull)
Narrative: Brignull

Harvard

Brignull, H, 'Dark Patterns' (2011) https://old.deceptive.design/