Author: Veronika Langner
Title: Influence and ethical impact of design of technology on user behavior
Year: 2023
University: Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt
Course of Study: User Experience Design
Link to Thesis: https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-haw/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/4046/file/I001659320Thesis.pdf
This thesis digs into how things like button color, shape, or placement in apps actually push people’s decisions, often without us even realizing it. Veronika covers nudging, persuasive tech, and all those design tricks, but she’s always asking, “Is this ethical?” She doesn’t just talk about theory. She runs a pretty solid user study with over 100 people to see which designs actually change user choices. That mix of research and practice made this stand out for me.
Presentation quality
Everything is laid out clearly. The graphics actually help explain things, and there is no clutter. The flow is sensible and it never feels lost or repetitive. You can tell care went into making sure it is easy to navigate.
Degree of innovation & independence
What I really like is her focus on the subtle stuff, how tiny UI tweaks can majorly affect behavior. She did not lean on old templates but set up her own experiments and followed them through confidently. Most studies ignore how much control users actually have over what they share or do, but she doesn’t. I do wish there was more about people outside “typical users,” especially those who might care more about tracking or privacy.
Organization and structure
No surprises here. It is logical and clear, each section building on the last. It goes from theory and research straight into the actual user study and then loops back to why these findings matter for designers.
Communication
The writing is straightforward, not clogged up with jargon. She makes complex ideas easy to get, like she is talking with you and not just writing for academics.
Scope
She goes deep enough on every topic layer without straying too far. There could be more about how these ideas play out with stricter privacy laws or in different countries, but for what she sets out to do, she delivers.
Accuracy and attention to detail
Her charts, stats, and references are solid. There is a careful approach to both the experiment and the write-up. You can trust what is there.
Literature
She brings in the big names in design and behavioral science alongside new studies. It is not just a list. The sources work with her points instead of standing alone.
Personal reflection
What really pulled me in was how this connects to my own thesis, which is about how we help users actually manage their digital footprints better. It is so easy to forget the power design has in quietly guiding what data people share and whether they feel in control or not. Reading this reminded me of the importance of designing for agency, showing people where their data goes, making privacy choices obvious and accessible, and resisting those sneaky nudges that favor the company over the user. For my own research, this thesis is a reminder to keep checking every screen and every pathway I design and keep asking, “Does this help people actually manage and understand their digital trail, or am I adding to the confusion?”
Disclaimer:
This review was shaped with AI (Perplexity) to help me capture my thoughts and structure them clearly.
