Netnography and design thinking: development and illustration in the vegan food industry

Ashman, Rachel ORCID: 0000-0002-5579-6304, Patterson, Anthony ORCID: 0000-0003-1508-9258 and Kozinets, Robert V (2021) Netnography and design thinking: development and illustration in the vegan food industry. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MARKETING, 55 (9). pp. 2491-2514. ISSN 0309-0566, 1758-7123

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Abstract

<jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Purpose</jats:title><jats:p>This paper aims to strengthen the process of design thinking by aligning it with netnography, specifically auto-netnography, which this paper asserts is particularly suited to the task of studying and enriching the actions of “designerly types” who seek to fashion monetisable businesses.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Design/methodology/approach</jats:title><jats:p>This paper conducts an auto-netnography with a structure divined from established design thinking theory – that of empathising, defining, ideating, prototyping and testing – to afford an understanding of how a popular health food influencer designs a successful vegan restaurant.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Findings</jats:title><jats:p>This paper illustrates the empathetic relationship between a long-term audience member and an entrepreneur/designer/marketer. The intimate cultural analysis reveals the nature of their symbiotic entwinement. In a way that few other methods could, the method shows how this sense of reciprocity, deepens over time.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Research limitations/implications</jats:title><jats:p>Conducting an auto-netnography is a prolonged and difficult task. Nonetheless, by revealing the rituals, expectations, roles and routines of content creators, designers and followers, this paper illustrates exciting possibilities for the enactment and development of design thinking in the marketing field.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Practical implications</jats:title><jats:p>Designerly types such as marketers and content creators should closely study, listen to and interact with consumers by using a similarly staged process that draws equally from design thinking and auto-netnography.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Originality/value</jats:title><jats:p>Prior to this study, existing research has not previously linked design thinking with either netnographic or auto-netnographic research.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Food, Well-being, Design thinking, Netnography, Influencers, Autonetnography, Content creators
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2021 09:08
Last Modified:	07 Dec 2024 21:50
DOI:	10.1108/EJM-02-2020-0155
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3113265