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In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Fatimah Richmond speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. Fatimah shares her journey from computer science to anthropology and how she found her passion for human-computer interaction. She discusses the evolution of UX research and the importance of research maturity within organizations. Fatimah highlights the need for researchers to take ownership of their practice, understand power dynamics, and communicate the impact of their work effectively.
Opinions expressed are solely Fatimah Richmond’s own, and do not express the views or opinions of her current or former employers.”
About Fatimah RichmondFatimah Richmond is a UX Research Strategist with over 15 years of experience across AI, healthcare, enterprise software, productivity tools, talent solutions, and defense IT. She currently works at Google DeepMind, focusing on strategic research programs for AI User Experience (AIUX). Fatimah has held roles such as research manager, research program manager, and research assistant, executing qualitative research projects targeting large markets and specialized user groups. She completed her graduate studies in Applied Anthropology, Human Factors, and Design at San Jose State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Tuskegee University. Her mission is to empower user research, enable ethical and inclusive products, and document her findings.
Key TakeawaysFatimah emphasizes the importance of research maturity and understanding the impact of low-maturity organizations on the research process.
Researchers should embrace strategic operations and programs to tell the story of their function within the organization.
Creativity plays a key role in research innovation, and hobbies like poetry can enhance researchers’ creative thinking.
Taking a critical reflexive lens to study power dynamics and organizational culture can lead to a deeper understanding of research practices.
Key Moments1:22 Integrati -
In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Tariq Rahman speaks with Matt Artz about his UX journey. He discusses his fieldwork in Pakistan's real estate market and how it allowed him to explore the intersection of anthropology and UX research. He also highlights his UX internships at Zameen.com and Nike and discusses how his strategy consulting internship at ReD Associates has also helped position him for a career in UX research.About Tariq RahmanTariq Rahman is currently finishing his PhD in Cultural Anthropology at the University of California, Irvine, where he studied the role of social media and proptech in Pakistan’s emerging $1 trillion real estate market. He recently completed a UX Research internship at Nike and a Strategy Consulting internship at ReD Associates. His expertise lies in using ethnography to better understand the relationship between technology and culture, and leveraging these insights to inform product innovations and strategy.Key Moments 00:03:00 - Fieldwork in Pakistan on real estate market 00:06:00 - First internship at Zameen.com, a property portal 00:12:05 - Opportunity to work with companies in emerging markets during field work 00:13:48 - Making the case for UX research and its impact in Pakistan 00:15:00 - Lack of practical advice from department, self-learning UX research 00:18:00 - Introduction to UX during Nike internship, bottom-up experimental approach 00:22:23 - Importance of learning and seeking help during internships 00:23:00 - Internship at Red Associat
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In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Rachel Puvvada speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. She first unknowingly discovered anthropology in high school through an ethnography project exploring cultural identity. This sparked her interest in studying people and cultures, leading her to earn a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Georgia. To position her for a career after college, Rachel took on ethnographic projects, created an online portfolio, and landed a UX research internship at SiriusXM. Now, as a UX researcher at Independence Pet Group, Rachel leverages her anthropology background while emphasizing continuous learning and curiosity. Passionate about helping others, she shares her less common path from an undergrad to UX to inspire other anthropology graduates.About Rachel PuvvadaRachel Puvvada recently earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia. She is now a UX Researcher at Figo Pet Insurance, leading as the sole member of the user experience research team. Before this, she interned as a Product and UX Researcher at SiriusXM, where she tested product designs, synthesized data, and shared insights with cross-functional teams. As a recent graduate in a new UX role, Rachel is committed to providing guidance and mentorship to individuals entering the field with similar educational backgrounds.Key Moments00:00:59 Rachel's interest in anthropology and cultural identity00:04:20 Rachel's experience in the anthropology program at the University of Georgia00:07:00 Discovering UX research and deciding on a career path00:09:30 Considering the need for an advanced degree in UX00:11:00 Rachel's journey of breaking into the field without a master's or PhD00:12:00 Building a portfolio with ethnographic projects and real-world experience00:12:56 Importance of real-world experience and managing stakeholders00:13:00 Applying to entry-level UX research jobs00:12:56 Real-world experience and job search struggles00:14:43 Difficulty breaking into the field with a bachelor's degree00:15:24 Landing an internship at Sirius XM00:16:00 Learning usability tests and specific UX research methodologies00:16:58 Challenges of being a team of one and relying on mentors00:18:11 Continuing to learn and explore new methodologies00:19:00 Finding resources through online readings and mentor relationships00:20:14 Encouragement for job seekers to persevere and stay curious00:22:37 Joining user research meetups and groups for networkin
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In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Sydney Yeager speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. She discusses how she discovered anthropology in college and fell in love with its holistic perspective. Sydney also talks about her involvement with the Digital Anthropology Networking Group (DANG) and the importance of establishing the credibility of anthropologists studying digital spaces. She highlights the value of storytelling in anthropology and how it translates to UX research. Sydney also shares her experience working in product management and UX research roles and discusses her current role at Walmart, where she focuses on providing tech solutions for employees and improving the employee experience.About Sydney YeagerSydney Yeager is a digital anthropologist with a career spanning academia and the private sector. Currently serving as a Senior Design Researcher at Walmart Global Tech, she previously held positions at AcreTrader and Boston Scientific. In academia, Yeager was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Rollins College and remains an active figure in anthropological circles as the co-founder and chair of the Digital Anthropology Interest Group (DANG). Her work consistently aims to integrate anthropological methodologies into technology and product development.Key Moments00:01:00 - Sydney's background and how she discovered anthropology.00:03:00 - Sydney's undergraduate research on health and healing traditions.00:04:00 - Sydney's interest in digital anthropology and involvement with DANG.00:06:00 - DANG's mission to establish the credibility of digital anthropology.00:08:00 - Sydney's interest in UX research and applied anthropology.00:10:00 - Sydney's early work in UX research and interaction with academics.00:13:00 - Experience in product management and UX research.00:18:00 - Role on the Associate Digital Experience team at Walmart.00:19:00 - Support for tech in the new Walmart campus.00:22:29 - Observations on building products for customers vs. employees00:24:00 - Need to translate employee experience into business goals00:25:00 - Importance of considering end users and customers separately00:26:03 - Ways to get involved in the digital anthropology groupRecommended Links
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In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Julia Wignall speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. She discusses the value of anthropology in the healthcare field and how she uses design research and service design to improve patient experiences. Julia emphasizes the importance of executive sponsorship and navigating the complexity of healthcare problems. She also highlights the need for qualitative methods, journey mapping, and service blueprinting in service design. Julia provides insights into the intersection of anthropology, design, and healthcare.About Julia WignallJulia Wignall is an accomplished anthropologist currently serving as the Manager of Experience Insights & Design at Seattle Children's, where she brings the principles of social science to guide business decisions. With over a decade of experience in the field, she leads workforce, patient, and family experience insights, employing mixed methods research and service design for strategic innovation. Julia's expertise lies in ethical research practices, ethnography, and qualitative analysis, making her an invaluable asset in driving equity-focused design projects and generating actionable insights that impact product and program strategies throughout the organization.Key Moments00:01:25 - Julia's interest in anthropology and migration experiences00:03:42 - Julia's work at Seattle Children's Hospital00:04:48 - Transitioning to design research and learning on the job00:07:06 - The value of executive sponsorship in facilitating change00:09:24 - Navigating limitations and communicating research findings00:10:57 - The role of business anthropology in understanding organizational culture00:12:16 - Perspectives on anthropology and design in the medical field00:13:42 - Facilitating change and adoption in a collaborative healthcare environment00:15:29 - Using service design to navigate complexity and solve problems00:18:00 - Incorporating technology into service design in healthcare00:21:00 - Recommended skills for those interested in service design in healthcare00:24:59 - Upcoming events and opportunities for networking in the field00:25:59 - How to get in touch with Julia
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In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Jason Garrison speaks with Matt Artz about his UX journey. The conversation covers Jason's journey from being an educator to becoming a cultural anthropologist and eventually transitioning to UX research. Throughout the episode, Jason emphasizes the importance of empathy, networking, and relationship-building in UX research. Additionally, he provides guidance on pursuing a PhD in anthropology and delves into the role of research operations in UX, discussing strategic thinking and emotional intelligence. Jason also highlights the benefits of embedded ethnography for understanding research team function and growth and offers advice for breaking into research operations.About Jason GarrisonJason Garrison is a seasoned UX Researcher, currently leading projects at AnswerLab, where he utilizes his mastery in mixed-methods to deliver valuable ethnographies and help clients understand their target audiences better. With over five years in the field, his journey has encompassed roles at UX Cabin, Comcast, Rock Central, and Google, each contributing to his unique skill set. His tenure has been marked by significant achievements such as initiating the first user research program for the Rocket Mortgage Mobile app at Rock Central and enhancing internal developer tools at Google. Jason's ability to empathize with users and translate insights into actionable results, combined with his dedication to inclusivity, makes him a valuable asset in the UX industry.Key Moments00:00:00 Introduction to the Anthro to UX podcast 00:00:38 Introduction to Jason Garrison00:01:28 Jason's early interest in anthropology 00:02:25 Jason's practicum in Malaysia and exposure to applied anthropology 00:04:10 Jason's interest in the practical application of anthropology 00:05:57 Jason's discovery of UX during the pandemic 00:07:08 Jason's transition to UX research 00:09:30 The importance of storytelling in UX research 00:11:20 The role of empathy in UX research 00:06:28 Jason's decision not to pursue a PhD in anthropology 00:08:14 Discussion on the value of a PhD for UX research 00:10:00 Jason's view on the practical application of anthropology in UX 00:11:37 Addressing the criticism of anthropology being watered down in UX 00:12:47 Importance of anthropology in
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In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Sarah Elizabeth Yoho speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. The conversation covers Sarah's journey from law to medical anthropology, her transition into UX research during the pandemic, and the importance of translating anthropological experiences into the job application process. Sarah also discusses the concept of impact in research, the role of operations in policy implementation, and the significance of strategy in linking company goals to research and data points. Additionally, she highlights the potential for UX research in financial services.About Sarah Elizabeth YohoSarah Elizabeth Yoho is a Senior UX Researcher with a focus on strategy, policy and operations, and a specialization in ethnographic research. She has successfully planned, facilitated, and delivered diverse projects with a variety of clients in various sectors, including banks, NGOs, nonprofits, peak bodies, consultancies, and lobbyists. Her professional skillset features an international profile, including work at the Australian Medical Council (Policy Strategy & Compliance), the European Commission (Policy Research) & Macquarie University (Program Development).At AnswerLab, Sarah Elizabeth works in the Financial Services Team where she leverages her policy strategy background and ethnographic expertise to lead strategic UX Research projects, facilitate workshops, and foster client relationships. She holds a Masters in Medical Anthropology & Public Health (MCHaM) from the Australian National University and a Marie Skłodowska Curie PhD in Medical & Environmental Anthropology from the University of Leeds.Recommended Links Sarah Elizabeth Yoho's website Sarah Elizabeth Yoho on Linkedin Ask a Manager Business Anthropology by Ann Jordan
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In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Joseph Galanek speaks with Matt Artz about his UX journey. The conversation covers Joe's journey from being inspired by cultural experiences when traveling to pursuing degrees in anthropology and public health. He shares his challenges in finding a job in anthropology departments due to specific research interests and how he discovered opportunities in consulting agencies that value qualitative and quantitative research. The discussion also explores Joe's work leading client engagements as a UX Strategy Manager at Answerlab and his experience mentoring anthropologists transitioning into business.About Joseph GalanekJoseph Galanek is an accomplished user experience researcher and UXR strategist with over 15 years of experience in academia and industry. As the UX Strategy Manager at AnswerLab, he collaborates with ecommerce leaders, designing and implementing customized research that meets partners' objectives and business goals. Joseph's expertise includes qualitative and mixed methods research, scoping, and client engagement.With a strong academic background, including a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and an MPH from Case Western Reserve University, Joseph has held research roles at various organizations such as HireWisdom, EDUCAUSE, and ICF. He has contributed to impactful projects, including CDC health campaigns and national HIV prevention initiatives, and is known for balancing methodological rigor with pragmatic strategies.Key Moments00:02:00 - Reflections on a Career in Anthropology00:06:36 - Exploring Career Opportunities in Research Consultancies00:08:12 - Applying Qualitative Research Skills in an Applied Environment00:14:17 - Collaborative Efforts and Demonstrating Value in Anthropology Research00:16:00 - Moving from Academia to Business: Advice for Anthropologists00:19:41 - Making a Good First Impression on LinkedIn00:21:19 - Analysis of Research Objectives and Actionable Recommendations for Development Teams00:22:48 -Exploring Trends in Cost-Effective UX ResearchRecommended Links
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In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Rama Vennelakanti speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. The conversation covers Rama's journey from discovering anthropology to her stint in market research and, finally, her landing in the field of UX. It also touches on Rama's willingness to jump in head first and learn something when needed. It is an inspiring example of how one should not be afraid of the unknown and embrace new challenges. Rama's fearlessness has enabled her to explore different areas of research and innovation, leading to her success as a skilled anthropologist and UX strategist.About Rama VennelakantiAs an anthropologist, Rama Vennelakanti has become a skilled researcher and UX strategist, currently working as a Senior UX Researcher & Strategist in UXDX Developer Relations, Network, and Edge Group at Intel Corporation. Her role involves utilizing her extensive experience in driving UX strategy backed by research, which has led to a proven track record of positively impacting businesses and their customers.Previously, Rama was a Senior User Researcher and UX Lead at HP for over nine years. During this time, she honed her ability to work effectively with global multi-disciplinary teams and internal and external stakeholders in innovation environments, enabling her to deliver exceptional results across various industry verticals ranging from IT, Telecom to FMCG. Her passion for technology and commitment to driving actionable insights from research has been consistent theme throughout her career.Recommended Links Rama Vennelakanti on LinkedIn
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In this episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Victoria de Aranzeta speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. The conversation covers Victoria's journey from art school to anthropology. She discusses how she combines those skills as a product designer, and how her anthropological study of tools contributes to her work today.About Victoria de AranzetaVictoria de Aranzeta is a multi-disciplinary UX designer and researcher passionate about creating purpose-driven tools and decolonizing design thinking. She is currently working at NCX as a Senior Product Designer, where she leads the design of the Landowner Platform and operationalizes ethical research practices across the company. Victoria has also worked as a founding product designer and researcher at Spora Health, where she led the design vision and research strategy for creating culture-centered healthcare products for People of Color. She established and led decolonizing design and research practices to build people-centered experiences and created processes, research toolkits, and a design system with accessible components. Prior to Spora Health, Victoria was an interaction designer on crowdsourcing software at Google on the Crowdsource team, where she partnered with other designers, researchers, and engineers to create a more ethics-rooted AI. With vast experience in ethical research, qualitative research, UX writing, design systems, and strategy, Victoria is a creative designer and critical thinker specializing in decolonizing design thinking, visual design, accessible design, and interaction design.
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In this episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Paige Nuzzolillo speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. The conversation covers Paige's early research career in participatory action research, the importance of training and mentorship, and how she uses art-based research (ABR) methods in her work as a Senior UX Researcher at Indeed.About Paige NuzzolilloPaige Nuzzolillo is an energetic, collaborative, strategic, participatory, and creative qualitative UX Researcher. She currently works at Indeed.com on the SMB team with 50+ other researchers. She is embedded in a product team building tools to help fast-growing employers find the candidates they need regularly.Recommended Links Paige Nuzzolillo's website Paige Nuzzolillo on LinkedIn Paige Nuzzolillo on MediumEpisode TranscriptPlease note this transcript is an automated transcription and may have some errors.0:00:00.7 Matt Artz: Welcome to the Anthro to UX podcast. You will learn how to break into UX within anthropology degree through conversations to competing anthropologists working in user experience, you will learn firsthand how others make the transition, what they learned along the way and what they would do differently. We will be discussing what it means to do UX research from a practical perspective, and what you need to do to prepare a resume and portfolio on your host, Matt Artz, a business a
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In this episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Eric Cunningham speaks with Matt Artz about his UX journey. Eric discusses his recent transition to being a Senior UX Researcher at Crossover Health. He shares how he learned to tell his academic story and business terms and how his training as an ecological anthropologist supports him in understanding the relationships between people, places, and things.About Eric Cunningham
Eric Cunningham is an ecological anthropologist working at the intersection of UX, research strategy, and service design. He is interested in understanding how humans think about and interact with larger systems. He is passionate about evidence-based design that makes people happy, keeps them engaged, and helps businesses grow.
Eric enjoys discussing critical theory, capitalism, political ecology, complexity, and imagined futures. He also enjoys spending time outdoors with the little beings I live with (an 11yo corgi and a 3yo human).
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In this episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Jamie Sherman speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. Her story began with a cold call to Ken Anderson at Intel for an informational interview and matured into a career researching emerging technologies at Intel, Netflix, and now Atlassian.About Jamie ShermanJamie Sherman is a cultural anthropologist and a senior researcher at Atlassian. Previously she was a senior product researcher at Netflix and a senior research scientist at Intel. Past work focused on emergent technological practices, from quantified self to virtual reality and the future of entertainment. Her research has developed usages and driven strategies for video game play, media creation, and online toxicity. Jamie holds a PhD in anthropology from Princeton University and was co-chair of EPIC2021.Recommended Links Jamie Sherman on LinkedIn
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In this episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Vanessa Whatley speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. We discuss how a degree in human factors complemented her anthropology degree and how it prepared her to work at Google and now lead research at Twilio.About Vanessa WhatleyVanessa Whatley is an anthropologist and Head of Research - Data & Growth at Twilio. Previously, she was a UX Researcher & Strategist at Google, where she worked on improving the advertising experience for small and medium-sized businesses.She studied Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to get an MS in Human Factors in Information Design at Bentley.Vanessa believes in a human-centered approach and is passionate about helping companies gain a deep understanding of people to create products that are useful and relevant.Recommended Links Vanessa Whatley on LinkedIn
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In this episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Sara Hefny speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey from studying anthropology at Brown to working at Hotjar as a Senior Product Researcher.About Sara HefnySara Hefny earned a PhD in anthropology from Brown University and has since gone on to become a UX researcher working for Hotjar. As a qualitative researcher with nearly a decade of work across multiple continents and languages, Sara brings a much-needed anthropological lens to digital product research.
Raised between Seattle, Washington and Alexandria, Egypt, Sara has called multiple cities, countries, and continents home and brings an intrinsic talent for cooperation and building bridges to all areas of her work.
In addition to her work with user experience and product research, Sara is a highly-requested speaker on qualitative research best practices, conducting research with international populations, working with vulnerable people, and transitioning from academia to industry.
Recommended Links Sara Hefny on LinkedIn Sara Hefny on Twitter Sara Hefny's website -
In this episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Jo Aiken speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey from studying applied anthropology at UNT to working at NASA and now Google.About Jo AikenAs a business + design anthropologist, Jo Aiken helps leaders innovate, create, build, and launch transformative technologies and practices. She applies ethnography, user experience research, qualitative and quantitative methods, and human behavior theories to help high-performing organizations solve people-related challenges. From change management strategies to designing spacecraft, she has advised and coached CEO-level executives through a myriad of organizational and technical challenges. She uses her skills in
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In this episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Alexandra Mack speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey from studying archaeology to her current role as Managing Principal Researcher at Ad Hoc. Along the way, the conversation touches on her time at Bitney Bowes and reflects on the shifting practice of research and design.About Alexandra MackAlexandra Mack is an anthropologist and Managing Principal Researcher at Ad Hoc.Her passion for understanding people, what they do, and why they do it has led to a career at the intersection of customer-centered design, innovation, market research, opportunity identification, business planning, and cultural change.As one of the first anthropologists hired at Pitney Bowes, she established frameworks for research and analysis and developed a program of work practice research. She also facilitated opportunity identification, designed end-to-end client experiences, and worked closely with internal stakeholders to orchestrate the execution of new ideas and processes. Recommended Links Alexandra Mack on LinkedIn Alexandra Mack on Twitter Alchymyx Ad Hoc LLC
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In this episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Kathi Kitner speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey through multiple anthropological professions to her current role as Lead UX Researcher at Google. The conversation covers the state of research in tech before UX and how the profession has changed over time.About Kathi KitnerKathi Kitner is a Lead UX Researcher at Google and holds a PhD in cultural anthropology and Latin American Studies. She brings strong expertise in the fields of sustainable development, ecological and human adaption, public policy and social impact evaluation to her current work on information communication technologies (ICTs) and social change. She is currently researching broadly how people around the world pay for things online and off, how money flows through cultures, and how the "larger intersections" of class, ethnicity, race, gender, shifting national politics, and technology adoption all influence people's economic behaviors.Recommended Links Kathi Kitner on LinkedIn Kathi Kitner on Twitter EPIC Society for Applied Anthropology American Anthropological Association
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In this episode of the Anthro to UX podcast, Frank Romagosa speaks with Matt Artz about his UX journey, from starting at E-Lab (Sapient) to his current role as Senior User Experience Researcher at CloudSort Corporation. The conversation covers the earlier days of design research, the maturation of UX, and why surprise is helpful when presenting insights. About Frank RomagosaFrank Romagosa is ananthropologist, a design and research strategist, and a brand and business builder, based in New York, USA.For over 20 years Frank has worked with designers and product leaders from a broad range of Fortune 100 enterprises to young and nimble startups to build new products, platforms, services, and user experiences. Frank has helped major banks like CitiCards, Wells Fargo and Chase seize new opportunities that impact the lives of ordinary people while delivering new avenues of sustainable business growth.Frank has also helped start-ups in financial services and related hybrid industries push through the messiness of their potential customers’ everyday lives to prioritize new features in the early days of business creation.He is currently a Senior User Experience Researcher at CloudSort Corporation.Recommended Links Frank Romagosa on LinkedIn Frank Romagosa on Twitter EPIC
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In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Melissa Krug speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey, linguistic anthropology, finding her way to UX during the pandemic, and her role at AnswerLab as a Qualitative UX Researcher.About Melissa KrugMelissa Krug is a linguistic anthropologist. She earned her Phd from Temple University and works at AnswerLab as a Qualitative UX Researcher.Her academic, consulting, and teaching research projects have included interviews, observations, survey design and analysis (quantitative and qualitative), and ethnography and have spanned over 12 years. Trained specifically in linguistic anthropological methods, Melissa is able to use common conversations as data and draw insights about concepts like identity construction, power dynamics, sentiment, and engagement. She has analyzed stories, gestures, translation practices, natural conversations, print content, social media, and recorded interviews to understand how people engage with different situations, other people, brands, and themselves.Recommended Links Melissa Krug on LinkedIn AnswerLab
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