As we navigate through the world, we are constantly being influenced by subtle design tactics that most of us aren’t even aware of. These branding tactics can be found everywhere – in the layout of your favorite store, the colors of a pop-up ad, or even the design of your favorite app. But it’s not just about understanding these principles. It’s about considering the ethics behind their use, questioning the motives, and equipping ourselves to recognize and resist manipulation.

All content directed and written by John Mauriello. John Mauriello has been working professionally as an industrial designer since 2010. He is an Adjunct Professor of industrial design at California College of the Arts.

Time stamps:
0:00 Intro
1:08 BS Continuum
1:38 Information Asymmetry
3:29 Emotional Alchemy
4:56 Tropical Storm: Visual Signaling
7:30 Seller Reputation & Trustworthiness
9:20 Category 1: The Debt of Kindness
11:41 Category 2: Follow the Herd
15:57 Category 3: Obey Authority
18:58 Category 4: The Deception of Exclusivity
22:41 Category 5: Misguided Loyalty
28:40 Brutally Honest Manipulation
31:43 Creating Meaning
33:32 Education vs Manipulation
36:58 What’s the Most Manipulative Brand?