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User ResearchProduct DesignUX Design

Ethnographic Research in Product Development: Observing Users in Context

Interaction Design FoundationInteraction Design Foundation13 min readJanuary 1, 2023
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Summary

Ethnographic research — observing users in their natural environment — reveals insights that no survey or interview can capture. Borrowed from anthropology, ethnographic methods help product teams discover unarticulated needs, workarounds, and contextual factors that shape how products are actually used. This article covers field observation techniques, contextual inquiry, photo and video ethnography, and cultural probes. It provides practical guidance on planning ethnographic studies, managing the tension between observation and interpretation, and translating findings into design implications.

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