Last week’s Whiteboard was a success. About 18 professionals joined us from a range of industries– social media, finance, online publishing, and independent consulting, to name a few. With drinks in hand, 128 square feet of clean whiteboard space, and enough Expo pens to go around, everyone was ready to dive in. Read More »

In 2011 SonicRim sponsored, helped organize, and presented at EPIC – the Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Conference. EPIC is a confluence of ethnographers, anthropologists, designers, engineers, marketers and other professionals involved in the use of ethnography in industry. We support EPIC because we believe it is an important place to reflect on our work and identify new opportunities. The annual event follows a typical conference format, with separate paper and workshop sessions, and breakout sessions in between them.

The ideas that emerged provided insights on changes in our industry, collaborating more successfully with clients, and evolving research practices. Here’s an overview of what we learned from the experience: Read More »

I recently returned from a three-week-long trip to China, and I am still recovering from exposure to air pollution. What I heard and saw in the four cities I visited made me think about how design research can help bridge the gap between what is needed and what is available to the Chinese people.

In this post, I want to talk about air quality. Read More »

Last fall SonicRim sponsored a design research course for graduate students at California College of the Arts (CCA), with an aim to promote design research in the academic environment and cultivate competent professionals for the industry. On December 5, the students presented their final projects about the human-nature connection. Read More »

SOPA will stifle the creative impulse, and encourage unintended infringement of liberty. While SonicRim supports the protection of intellectual property, we stand by millions of netizens who are defending their right to explore creativity online. Read More »