During my internship with a user experience and human factors research consultancy in Tokyo, Japan, I contributed across all three stages of the UX research process: preparation, fieldwork, and deliverables and analysis. I supported projects for clients including Google, YouTube, and L'Occitane, preparing study protocols and agreement forms, translating documentation between Japanese and English, and accompanying senior researchers to both in-person and remote interviews. I independently managed key portions of these projects by taking detailed notes during bilingual discussions and transforming those findings into formal client deliverables. Applying concepts from my undergraduate psychology studies, I also worked directly with users with physical disabilities to evaluate and improve transportation accessibility. In addition to client-facing research, I edited and published more than 30 articles for the company blog, writing several original pieces and ultimately expanding my role to independently run a user study.
My internship gave me the opportunity to apply behavioral psychology to real-world accessibility and product design in ways I could never have experienced in a classroom alone. Working directly with users with physical disabilities showed me how academic concepts can directly inform research to make services more inclusive.
Satomi Hamano