The Next Speaker

Steve Portigal is de oprichter van Portigal Consulting, een Boutique Firm in San Francisco dat gebruikersonderzoek, design en business strategy bij elkaar brengt. Portigal Consulting helpt zijn klanten nieuwe inzichten te verwerven over zichzelf en hun klanten en dit succesvol toe te passen in de dagelijkse praktijk. Belangrijke klanten van Portigal Consulting zijn onder andere: France Telecom, BIC, Nestlé en EBay.

Steve schrijft geregeld voor Core77 en de Portigal Consulting Blog: All this ChittahChattah. Daarnaast is hij een gepassioneerd fotograaf en bezit hij het Museum of Foreigh Grocery Products.

Hij heeft een B.Sc. in Computer Science van de Universiteit van Toronto, en een MSc. in Computing
en Information Science van de Universiteit van Guelph. Voor hij zijn eigen bedrijf startte in 2001, werkte hij als ethnograaf bij GVO, een product design en innovatie-consultancy.

Steve spreekt over design, innovation, user research, ethnography, improvisatie, creativity, interviewing techniques, ideation, en global cultures. Hij spreekt regelmatig op design en marketing events, en hij geeft les aan de Design Research faculteit van California College of Art en de Involution Master Academy.

Testimonials for Steve Portigal

Henry Schmidt, Director Product Design, Fisher-Price:

Steve Portigal’s workshop on ethnographic research has introduced our designers to valuable tools for understanding our global customers. He has given us new insights on how to approach ethnographic differences and how to apply that knowledge. I recommend Steve Portigal’s research experience to any company interested in driving innovation through learning about consumers.

Allan Chochinov, Editor-in-Chief, Core77:

When we were putting together the roster for Core77’s 2nd Design Innovation Conference, Steve was our first phone call. Steve made a connection with the audience that was emotional and profound. His storytelling, empathy and insight really helped the attendees see the world in a new way.

Denise Lee Yohn:

Steve’s ability to see things that others miss and to develop profound insights about people and culture make for a provocative presentation. He opened my eyes and got me thinking in new ways. I learned a lot and enjoyed his sense of humor.

Kathy Stershic, Former Research Manager, San Francisco American Marketing Association

Steve’s experience with ethnographic research, coupled with compelling real-world examples and an engaging slide show, gave us all new insights into this important branch of study and the cultures he has explored. As the Research Manager for the Chapter, I was especially glad to host a compelling program of interest to our members, as witnessed by their high satisfaction scores for the program. We highly recommend him as a speaker and ethnographer.

Luke Wroblewski, (formerly) User Experience & Design, eBay:

Steve’s overview of the importance of cultural context in product design was a much appreciated eye-opener for our global design team.

Leo Frishberg, Chair CHIFOO and Principal Architect, User Experience, Tektronix, Inc.:

Steve provided a spectacular capstone presentation to our professional speaker series. By all accounts, Steve’s presentation was considered one of the best, inspiring a great deal of discussion and comment.

Kelly Kodama, CEO, Zoe Design Associates:

Steve’s skill and experience observing and analyzing the intersection of culture, users, and design, as well as his engaging presentation style, provided our students from the Taiwan Design Center a treasure trove of useful insights into the research process.