The Brand Agency hosts Friends of Figma event exploring the line between persuasive + dark UX

Last night, The Brand Agency opened its doors to Perth’s thriving design community, hosting the latest Friends of Figma event.

Led by The Brand Agency’s UI Designer Joseph Damiano and Strategy Director Daniella Chadinha, the session explored how design and communication choices can influence consumer behaviour – for better or worse.

The evening was part of the Friends of Figma WA initiative, facilitated by Simon Mateljan, Morgan Becker and Blake Fullwood. Now in its fourth event of the year, the committee continues to bring together UXers, designers, developers and copywriters – building a strong, collaborative community to share knowledge and raise the bar for digital design.

This edition tackled the topic of ‘dark patterns’ – intentionally deceptive design techniques used to nudge users into actions they might not otherwise take. Through five practical examples, attendees learned how to spot the signs of manipulative UX and, importantly, how to distinguish between persuasive experiences that add value to the user, or dark UX that undermines trust.

To help guide decision-making, Damiano and Chadinha left the attendees with four practical questions to ask themselves or their team throughout the design process:
1. Intent: Am I guiding the user toward something that benefits them?
2. Clarity: Would the user fully understand what’s happening & what they’re agreeing to?
3. Control: Can the user easily choose a different path without pressure or hidden obstacles?
4. Brand Fit: Does this make sense for the category/brand?

Of course, it wasn’t all theory. The night wrapped up with an interactive “Fair or Foul Play” activity, where attendees judged whether real-world digital examples were ethical or deceptive.

The evening served as a reminder of just how much influence design holds and the responsibility that comes with it. Conversations like these play an important role in the industry, helping ensure experiences remain thoughtful, ethical, and user-focused.