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About

Cherie Lacey is a leading voice at the intersection of human-robot interaction (HRI), design ethics, and cultural studies. Her research critically examines how social robots—particularly those designed for the home—use affective design strategies like cuteness to shape user relationships and behavior. Lacey’s most influential work introduces the concept of cuteness as a “dark pattern” in robotics, arguing that endearing robot aesthetics can be deployed to manipulate users into forming attachments, trusting data-hungry devices, or tolerating surveillance. Her 2019 paper on this topic has garnered 95 citations, while a companion study on the ambivalent power of cuteness in robotic relationships has received 73 citations. Together, these works have reshaped how designers and ethicists think about emotional design in embodied AI. Lacey also explores the relevance of character animation principles to social robotics, and the role of affect and embodiment in HRI. Her scholarship is notable for bridging critical theory with practical design critique, offering a nuanced framework for understanding why many companion robots fail to sustain long-term engagement. Lacey’s work is essential reading for anyone interested in the ethics of persuasive technology, robot aesthetics, and the hidden costs of making machines lovable.