Mobile devices and apps are with us almost every step of the way – we can use them to access all kinds of services and an endless amount of information. Different experts are responsible for the development of mobile applications and web content, and in practice, they implement ongoing changes, prepare various adjustments, and follow a technocentric paradigm, prioritising profitability and functionality in development while neglecting user needs and experiences. In my thesis, I problematize the technocentric approach of employees in agency companies or development studios in Slovenia – these are specialised companies with less than 50 employees that develop products for larger companies or publishers. Through conversations with experts working in these companies, I have found that they often skip qualitative research methods in the development process, justifying this with time and budget constraints. In this thesis, I propose a shift from a technology-centric development model to a more human-centred development tailored to people, and as the leading actor that makes this possible, I propose an anthropologist. This can connect experts with users for whom they create as a mediator of human experience, reduce the gap between professional knowledge and actual needs, and define ethical frameworks for a more inclusive and better user experience.
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