What I Do
I currently work as a freelance ethnographic tech consultant for Pacific Ethnography, a boutique consulting agency based out of Los Angeles. What exactly does that mean? What it means is I help high-tech product developers understand the lives and daily routines and desires of particular target markets within the Chinese population. How will your designs tailor to the the needs and expectations of the world’s largest tech market? What obstacles will your product encounter as it becomes integrated into the local culture? Who are the trendsetters and early adapters who set the tones for the remaining 1.3 billion potential Chinese consumers?
Using anthropological methadology, ethnographers seek to answer these questions, and provide the insight necessary for effective product development.
Between consulting gigs, I also work as a freelance English-Mandarin Chinese interpreter/translator in Chicago and have a wide array of experience in business, travel, court, and healthcare settings. My list of clients includes market research firms, hospitals, and the U.S. Olympic Committee. I am currently working on a longterm part-time consulting project with Lenovo, developing concepts for their soon-to-be-rolled-out product design blog.
For rates and inquiries, e-mail me at bensinchina /at/ yahoo dot com. I split my time about 70/30 between the US and China.
