Applying anthropological research methods in design processes

As you might have read last week, Ferry kindly invited me to co-write on his blog and share my experiences regarding my final internship at Tam Tam. I am Rosanne Vredenbregt, student of Communication and Multimedia Design at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. 100% Dutch, but I will be writing my stories in English, since I decided to follow the international course.

Graduation project

What are the functional and graphical consequences when designing for different cultures?

I am focusing on applying anthropological research methods in design processes. Just as physical cities and countries differ and reflect the people who live there, so do web sites. When publishing content in other languages than Dutch, there is always the possibility users will find other ways to interpret the visual design than the designer presupposed or there is a potential tension between the practices of design and use. A cultural approach will help us understand and create multilingual usability.

Problem definition

During the upcoming months, till July, I will try to answer my research question: “What are the consequences of language and culture on behavior and experience when launching a website in another country than the Netherlands?”

Feedback

I could use any of the information (opinions, insights, experiences, suggestions, etc) you might have on the relation between anthropology and design and/or designing globally. Also, if you have any experiences with user testing for multicultural groups, I am interested to read about it. I am open to arranging an appointment and having a talk about your knowledge in this area.