We are an independent market research agency. Our unique video market research methodology allows us to:
Go where the data can’t – into consumers’ real-life context
Film and analyse drivers shaping consumer decisions
Deliver tailored audio-visual strategic reports to fit your needs
Offer agility, cost savings and quick turnaround times
Uncover the human layer missing from modern market research
We leave the desk, the boardroom, the Al prompts, the two-way mirrors and laptop.
We moderate market research interviews in vehicles, homes, outlets, dealerships, salons, shopping aisles across Africa.
We unpack retail touchpoints, painpoints and unique points of view that you won't hear in a survey.
We investigate and engage - human to human - and we film it all.
Our immersive Ethno video insights and analytic strategy leads to massive a-ha moments, innovative hidden opportunities and consumer-led moments of clarity.
Ethnography delivers real-world behaviour, cultural nuance, and meaning in the moment. This can only come from one-on-one immersive market research interviews in context.
Our strategy-led market research insight reports are designed to make your job simpler, not harder.
We distil complex human analysis into clear, shared understanding.
Our thematic video outputs aligns stakeholders quickly and decisively.
We deliver a practical roadmap for product, experience, and marketing decisions.
With Human Lens Ethnographic Market Research, you can move forward with confidence. Faster decisions, fewer internal debates, and reduced risk of costly missteps.
Clients: KFC, Primi, NewsCafe, PnP, Woolworths, Engen & Astron.
Project Focus
De-codifying category, shopper journey, menu optimisation, segmentation, shopper needs, touchpoint assessment.
Clients: Tiger, Unilever, Pepsico, Coca-Cola, Mondelez & BEL.
Project Focus Segmentations, brand work, global-country deep dives into snacking, breakfast, sharing, beauty, celebration, energy.
Clients: Unilever, Reckitt, P&G, Tiger Brands, Clicks & Colgate.
Project Focus
Segmentations across Africa, brand work, new value propositions, innovation testing, shopper touchpoint mapping etc.
Clients: WesBank, ABSA Nedbank, Std Bank, OM & Metropolitan
Project Focus
Consumer immersions, product testing, MVP testing, concept testing, app ideation. UI & UX prototype testing.
Clients: AbInBev, Heineken, Diageo, Snell, Spier, Snell, JTI & BAT.
Project Focus
Segmentations, trade immersions, occasion ethno, outlet mapping, retailer insights, packaging/innovation testing.
Clients: Nissan, VW, Ford, Audi, Isuzu, Caltex Oil & Bridgestone Tyres.
Project Focus
African country deep dives into EV, SUV and sedan, live car clinic Ethno on site, Segment immersions, New and used shopper & finance journey.
“ The Human Lens team are an absolute pleasure to work with. They are great thinking partners and always keen for robust strategic discussion. Their work has delivered invaluable insights for clients, distilled in easy to use, digestible formats that travel around the business to be reused in multiple presentations. The Human Lens team are enthusiastic and helpful. They deliver excellence and take pride in every facet of their work and outputs. ”
SAMANTHA PAYNE. Head of Insights, KLA Research Agency
“ Alvin has this magical ability to tap into the heart of ethnography. At some point respondents tend to almost forget that this is an interview and get into that space where it now becomes a conversation, connecting with this one person that is interviewing them. This allows for richer insights. For me that is the power he is able to unleash in boardrooms - stakeholders are able to get a candid picture of reality in the natural environment, without interruption. ”
TSHEGOFATSO MANGWIRO. Corporate Affairs, Heineken Beverages
“ Over the last 8 years Alvin has demonstrated the immense value of truly listening to the voice of the customer. His natural ability to engage and extract authentic insight has resulted in incredibly rich actionable research. The work has impressed senior executives at Nissan in SA and Japan. All insights played a pivotal role in securing buy-in for expanded research across Sub-Saharan Africa, upstream and downstream phases and post launch evaluations. ”
HAJRA OSMAN. Consumer Insights Head for Africa, Nissan Motor Company
“ Alvin is a skilled storyteller whose drive is bringing consumer insights to life. He clearly crafts strategy to deliver uncommon insights, which challenge misperceptions and boardroom assumptions. Sifting through hours of footage his team always bring a clearly succinct story to answer the client’s exact needs. It is always amazing to behold how captivated boardrooms become as the insight story unfolds. I will always recommend working with Alvin and his team. ”
ZIBUSISO NGULUBE. Senior CMI Manager. L'Oreal Africa
We deliver an interactive workshop presentation and PowerPoint research report filled with multiple thematic videos that answer every element of your brief. Your entire business will have aligned direction and powerful audiovisual strategic insights at their fingertips.
Because the human angle is still the most powerful story there is.
We analyse hours and hours of in-situ moderated consumer insight footage.
Then create an immersive research deck of actionable strategy.
We have over 18 years of expertise running full turnkey Ethnography Projects throughout Africa. From fieldwork to analysis and synthesis, you get our dedicated attention and constant communication on every project.
Our fieldwork director, Alvin Visser, has a Masters Degree in Research Psychology and a post-grad diploma in Qualitative Research from UCLA. He has over 17 years’ experience successfully conducting immersive ethnography for multiple blue-chip clients. Alvin served as Head of Ethnography for Ipsos throughout Africa and as Field Director at Consumer Insight Agency (CIA).
Our head of video editing, Lin Murray, has a Degree in Journalism. She is a highly skilled and versatile editor with over 25 years of cross-platform media experience, spanning broadcast news and documentary reporting at the SABC, content creation, and audiovisual storytelling for multiple research agencies and production companies.
PHONE
+27 (0)72 99 11 66 8
alvin@humanlens.co.za
LINKED-IN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvinvisser/