The Problem
BNPL services like Klarna and Afterpay have exploded among Gen Z users. While marketed as "interest-free," these services obscure risk and exploit impulse buying psychology.
Zero Friction
Dark patterns remove hesitation to maximize conversion
Hidden Costs
Opportunity cost of investing is never shown
Impulse Exploitation
Designed to bypass rational decision-making
The Solution
Value Sensitive Design offers a framework for ethical intervention. Rather than removing choice, TrueCost focuses on informed consent—helping users understand implications before deciding.
Investment Visualization
See what your money could become in 5 years if invested instead
Cool-Down Timer
A gentle nudge introducing healthy friction (skippable)
Non-Paternalistic
Information, not judgment. You choose what matters to you
Educational
Teaches compound interest and opportunity cost through interaction
"In Marketing, I learned how to reduce friction to increase sales. For this project, I used my coding skills to reintroduce friction to increase user wellbeing."
The Difference: Dark Pattern vs TrueCost
Standard BNPL Experience
Zero friction: Instant approval, one-click checkout
Hidden costs: No mention of opportunity cost
Impulse-optimized: Designed to bypass rational thinking
No education: Users unaware of long-term impact
Conversion-optimized button:
→ Instant checkout
Value Sensitive Design
Intentional pause: Cool-down timer introduces reflection
Transparent costs: Investment visualization + time cost
Informed consent: Show consequences before decision
Educational: Teaches compound interest & opportunity cost
Same button triggers:
→ Information modal
→ Then user decides
Same interface, radically different experience. That's the power of Value Sensitive Design.