Human-centered Design requires learning people’s real needs. It means moving past assumptions and engaging with people to better understand their experiences. Some of the most powerful tools in the Human-centered Design process are ethnographic interviews and other types of ethnographic research. This episode explains what these tools are and how to use them to help you gain a deeper understanding of their real needs. The results will be increased creativity and innovation.
What You’ll Learn

* What ethnographic research means in the context of design and creativity
* 4 types of ethnographic tools that are helpful for solving problems creatively
* Tips and advice for conducting ethnographic research such as interviews, walk-a-mile, contextual inquiry, and observation.


Resources

* IDEO.org
* Suri, J.F. & Howard, S.G. (2006).Going Deeper, Seeing Further: Enhancing Ethnographic Interpretations to Reveal More Meaningful Opportunities for Design. Journal of Advertising Research.
* IDEO’s Design Kit Course

Weekly Challenge
Practice doing at least one ethnographic interview this week.
Transcript
Feel like reading instead of listening? Download the free transcript or read it below. Enjoy!
Transcript for Episode #099: How to Conduct Ethnographic Interviews for Design
Amy Climer: Welcome to The Deliberate Creative Podcast Episode 99. Today’s episode is about the role of ethnographic interviews in Human-centered Design. I am so excited that it is Episode 99. That means next episode is 100! I cannot believe I made it to 100. This is so exciting. I am doing something different for next episode and I want your help. I need your help. Episode 100 is a montage of listeners’ stories: what you have learned while listening to this podcast and how you have applied it. I have already gotten a few stories from listeners and they are so awesome. Personally, it is so heart-warming to hear your stories and to find out more about what you have learned and how this podcast has impacted you and I would love to share that with other listeners.
Here is how to share your story. There are three ways. The first is you can call a phone number and leave a message. First, you will hear a voice recording from me and then you can leave a message up to three minutes. The phone number, if you are ready, is 828-571-0884. Call that phone number, leave me a message. That is one way.
The second way is you can email me. My email address is [email protected]. Shoot me an email, write out your story, tell me what you have learned.
The last is you can also visit www.climerconsulting.com/100. There is just more information there about the type of stories I am looking for and the phone number is there again, the email address is there again. If it is easier for you just to go on the website, you can do that. You can also, if you know how to do this, you can record a message and then email that to me, if that is easier for you. Basically, give me the story however works for you. I am trying to make it easy.
Thank you so much for those who have already submitted your stories. I am excited about compiling them all together. You do need to have your story in by the end of July 2018. That is only a few more days, so please send them to me. Thank you.