Anthro to UX with Matt Artz

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Sonja Hodgson speaks with Matt Artz about her journey into UX research. Sonja shares her path from anthropology to UX research, highlighting the transferable skills from her anthropological background. She discusses her experiences in various roles, including medical interpretation, program evaluation, market research, and her current position as a UX researcher at LexisNexis. Sonja emphasizes the value of anthropological methods in UX research and the importance of continuous learning in the field.

Sonja Hodgson is a UX Researcher II at LexisNexis Legal, where she applies her expertise in applied anthropology to drive user-centric solutions in the legal technology sector. With a Master’s degree in Applied Anthropology from California State University, Long Beach, and a Bachelor’s in Anthropology from the University of South Carolina, Sonja brings a unique perspective to her work in UX research. Her career spans various roles, including medical interpretation, program evaluation, and market research, before transitioning into UX research.

Key Moments

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Fatimah Richmond speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. Fatimah shares her journey from computer science to anthropology and how she found her passion for human-computer interaction. She discusses the evolution of UX research and the importance of research maturity within organizations. Fatimah highlights the need for researchers to take ownership of their practice, understand power dynamics, and communicate the impact of their work effectively.

Opinions expressed are solely Fatimah Richmond’s own, and do not express the views or opinions of her current or former employers.”

Fatimah Richmond is a UX Research Strategist with over 15 years of experience across AI, healthcare, enterprise software, productivity tools, talent solutions, and defense IT. She currently works at Google DeepMind, focusing on strategic research programs for AI User Experience (AIUX). Fatimah has held roles such as research manager, research program manager, and research assistant, executing qualitative research projects targeting large markets and specialized user groups. She completed her graduate studies in Applied Anthropology, Human Factors, and Design at San Jose State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Tuskegee University. Her mission is to empower user research, enable ethical and inclusive products, and document her findings.

Fatimah emphasizes the importance of research maturity and understanding the impact of low-maturity organizations on the research process.

Researchers should embrace strategic operations and programs to tell the story of their function within the organization.

Creativity plays a key role in research innovation, and hobbies like poetry can enhance researchers’ creative thinking.

Taking a critical reflexive lens to study power dynamics and organizational culture can lead to a deeper understanding of research practices.