Persona
A persona is a detailed, fictional representation of a user archetype that helps guide design decisions. Personas are created based on user research and data, and they embody the characteristics, needs, goals, and behaviors of real users. They serve as a reference point to ensure that design decisions align with the needs and expectations of the target audience.
Key elements of a persona typically include
- Demographic information - age, occupation, and education level
- Background - personal and professional life
- Goals and objectives - what the persona aims to achieve or the problems they seek to solve
- Challenges and pain points - difficulties and obstacles the persona faces
- Behaviors and preferences - how the persona interacts with technology and their preferences
- Motivations - what drives the persona's decision and actions
Personas help design teams empathize with users, make informed design choices, and create user-centered solutions that address real needs and enhance user experience.
Resources
An experienced interaction designer explains what personas are, where the concpet came from, how they fit into the design process, how they are created and used for, and why they work.
How do you "dream up" a persona? You don't. An experienced interaction designer shares an effective method of creating a persona - the steps, the sample size, questions to ask, and how to analyze the data.