Human-centered UX/UI design: the impact of anthropological methods on user experience and interface research and design

Abstract

This paper studies anthropological integration into UX/UI research and design, as a part of an internship experience at Wonderif Studio Pvt. Ltd., a company highly focused on brand experiences and design in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This paper aimed to investigate how anthropological methods can facilitate a user-centered design approach. Using methods like participant observation, thick description, and cultural relativism, the internship showed how culture nuances user behavior and design in a social system. Such work encompassed website redesigns and product rebranding, where anthropological insights added value to User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) by facilitating a greater understanding of users needs and contexts. Anthropology in UX/UI works showcase how anthropology adds value to the field by enabling a richer understanding of users' behaviors, cultural backgrounds and empathetic engagements with design methodologies thus allowing for more inclusive and appropriate design solutions. These results emphasize one of the main takeaways to anthropology in producing inclusive and culturally relevant design solutions, as well as providing skills in design toolsets and collaboration. This report advocates for a paradigm shift that integrates anthropology into UX/UI design, emphasizing the need for context-sensitive and human-centered digital product