Anthropology and UX

Knowing technology is one thing, knowing the users is something else.

User Experience (UX) design is about people: understanding the entire process of human interaction with a product—from how easy it is to get and use to visual and emotional appeal. Often this is used in the context of software or other technological products. It always involves designing with input from users: including testing, surveys, interviews, and observations. And those are some of the methods that anthropologists regularly use. UM Anthropology graduates have gone on to work for major tech companies including Meta and LinkedIn.

Holistically trained anthropologists work across the silos often created within marketing, R&D, and decision making chains, and ensure the voice of the everyday user is present throughout the design and delivery process.

Common anthropological skills include:

• Approaching problems from multiple perspectives while staying cautious of common biases
• Researching across cultures and within multicultural groups
• Trend analysis and identification of patterns in consumer behaviors
• Understanding human motivations and unmet needs
• Facilitating empathy based, user-centric design research
• Developing, coordinating, implementing, and analyzing key research methodologies (e.g., focus groups, co-creation, surveys, interviews, in-depth ethnographic studies)
• Communicating accurate, accessible, and actionable findings and recommendations to stakeholders and decision makers

Anthropologists also apply their skills to understanding organizational culture and improving work processes and productivity.

UX work creates better products and services, decreased costs, increased profits, and benefits for users, organisations, and employees.

Major or Minor?

The Department of Anthropology offers both a Major Concentration in Applied Anthropology and a Minor in Applied Anthropology. Either would be useful for someone pursuing a career in UX. The major is a good choice for students who want to dig deep into the practice of anthropology in communities, businesses, governments, and other organizations. The minor is an easier fit for someone with another major who still wants training in qualitative research and cultural competencies.

Major in Anthropology with a Concentration in Applied Anthropology

The concentration will provide a skills-based series of courses that offers concrete training in qualitative methodology and what it means to be a practicing anthropologist. 

Students seeking the Anthropology BA with a Concentration in Applied Anthropology are required to take 30 hours of anthropology courses, including:

• All the core course requirements for the Anthropology BA (ANTH 1100*, ANTH 1200*, ANTH 3200, ANTH 4065) (12 credit hours)
• 2 additional core courses (ANTH 3010—Practicing Anthropology—and ANTH 4010—Qualitative Methods) (6 credit hours)
• 2 elective courses (6 credit hours) that revolve around a community-based project and direct work with a faculty advisor. There are many options, but priority to the studio-based course (ANTH 4510) and internship (ANTH 4970). Talk with the undergrad advisor for details!
• And 6 additional semester hours in anthropology at the upper division level.

Minor in Applied Anthropology

This minor provides a holistic approach to applied anthropological and qualitative research training. Students will gain an understanding of anthropological theories and perspectives while acquiring career-driven qualitative research skills. This minor is for any student interested in qualitative and ethnographic methods and will support students interested in a wide array of human-centered research including (but not limited to) UX work.

You must complete these 4 core courses:

• ANTH 1200 - Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)
• ANTH 3010 - Practicing Anthropology (3 credits)
• ANTH 3200 - Culture and Change around the World (3 credits)
• ANTH 4010 - Qualitative Methods (3 Credits)

Plus, an additional 2 anthropology electives for a total of 18 semester hours in anthropology.

For more information, contact Dr. Ted Maclin, Undergraduate Advisor: emaclin1@memphis.edu.