Mei Sato's Articles
Condemned to Choose: What Jean-Paul Sartre Can Teach Us About UX Design
What Sartre can teach UX: design that respects user freedom, avoids dark patterns, and builds trust through meaningful choices.
“Oshikatsu” – The Next Japanese Word You Need to Know
Learn how Oshikatsu, Japan’s participatory fan culture, can inspire UX design that fosters user autonomy, purpose, and meaningful engagement.
The Ephemeral UX of Fireworks: Lessons from Japan’s Summer Tradition
Hanabi in Japan teach timeless UX design lessons: ephemerality, anticipation, cultural meaning, and the shared joy of collective awe.
Accessibility in UX Research: Considerations and Practical Points for Research Firms
Discover practical tools and strategies to support inclusive UX research. Learn how to create accessible environments that empower participants with diverse needs.
Small Spaces, Big Insights: What urban Japanese apartments teach us about space-constrained design
Discover how compact Japanese apartments inspire smarter UX and product design through intentional living, minimalism, and creative space solutions.
Home Visits in Japan: The Promise and the Paradox
UX Research in Japan: Discover the cultural nuances of home visits and how they shape user behavior. Learn practical tips for insightful, respectful in-home studies.
Navigating Accessibility UX Research in the Japanese Market
Planning accessible UX research in Japan? Learn how to recruit participants with disabilities, prepare practical accommodations, and use tools like captions, screen readers, and flexible support.
The Book of Tea by Okakura Tenshin: A Gateway to Japanese Aesthetics and Philosophy
What can The Book of Tea teach us about Japanese aesthetics? Explore wabi-sabi, simplicity, and the tea ceremony’s influence on mindfulness, design, and everyday beauty.
Translation as Treason: Preserving Cultural Nuance in Global Research
Translation is never just about words. Explore how cultural nuance, emotional meaning, and local context shape UX research, localization, and cross-border communication.
What is an “Insight” and How is it Different from a Finding?
A finding tells you what happened. An insight explains why it matters. Explore how deeper interpretation helps UX teams uncover unmet needs and design with more clarity.