GUAPO: guia de alternativas para padrões obscuros

Abstract

This study aims to develop GUAPO — Guide to Alternatives for Deceptive Patterns, an online guide focused on raising awareness and ethically replacing deceptive patterns (DPs) in digital interfaces design, targeting students at the Federal University of Ceará, Quixadá Campus. It starts from the observation that manipulative practices are widely used in digital systems, compromising user autonomy and decision transparency, in addition to being little discussed in a structured way in the context of academic training in design. The methodology adopted comprised two main stages: (i) a literature review, aiming to identify the most recurrent types of DPs and theoretically substantiate the boundaries between persuasion and manipulation, and the application of an online questionnaire to students in Digital Design, Software Engineering, and Information Systems courses, allowing us to understand the perception, level of knowledge, and difficulties faced by students in relation to the ethical use of design; (ii) definition of requirements, personas, sitemap, and visual identity that guided the design of the guide. As a result, an online system was developed that brings together definitions of the main DPs, real examples of application, and, above all, proposals for ethical design alternatives based on principles of transparency, user autonomy, and conscious decision-making. GUAPO has an organized structure and accessible language consistent with its educational objectives, seeking to support both academic training and future professional practice. It is concluded that the guide represents a relevant contribution in both academic and practical terms, offering a concrete alternative for addressing DPs through education and pointing to possibilities for the continuity and expansion of the solution.