How to Use Cultural Probes to Understand Your Users

by William Hudson | | 11 min read
439 shares

While direct user observation is usually considered the most effective research tool, it’s not always possible. Technological solutions such as web conferencing and video recording can help us with more superficial issues, but to get a more detailed understanding of a problem domain or context of use we sometimes need to dig a little deeper. As Alan Dix explains, this is where cultural probes come in.

Show Hide video transcript
  1. Transcript loading…

Learn more about cultural probes and how you can use them to improve your designs with this handy guide:

Get your free template for “Cultural Probe”
Cultural Probe Cultural Probe
Secure form
Please provide your name.
We respect your privacy
Please provide a valid email address.
315,142 designers enjoy our newsletter—sure you don’t want to receive it?

Image

© Eduardo Ferreira and Interaction Design Foundation, CC BY-SA 3.0

Topics in This Article

439 shares

Open Access—Link to us!

We believe in Open Access and the democratization of knowledge. Unfortunately, world-class educational materials such as this page are normally hidden behind paywalls or in expensive textbooks.

If you want this to change, , link to us, or join us to help us democratize design knowledge!

Share Knowledge, Get Respect!

Share on:

or copy link

Cite according to academic standards

Simply copy and paste the text below into your bibliographic reference list, onto your blog, or anywhere else. You can also just hyperlink to this article.

Hudson, W. (2022, June 6). How to Use Cultural Probes to Understand Your Users. Interaction Design Foundation - IxDF.

New to UX Design? We're Giving You a Free eBook!

The Basics of User Experience Design

Download our free ebook “The Basics of User Experience Design” to learn about core concepts of UX design.

In 9 chapters, we’ll cover: conducting user interviews, design thinking, interaction design, mobile UX design, usability, UX research, and many more!

A valid email address is required.
315,142 designers enjoy our newsletter—sure you don’t want to receive it?

New to UX Design? We're Giving You a Free eBook!

The Basics of User Experience Design

Download our free ebook “The Basics of User Experience Design” to learn about core concepts of UX design.

In 9 chapters, we’ll cover: conducting user interviews, design thinking, interaction design, mobile UX design, usability, UX research, and many more!

A valid email address is required.
315,142 designers enjoy our newsletter—sure you don’t want to receive it?