User Personas

User personas are fictional, archetypal representations of key user segments, created based on research to embody their goals, behaviors, and needs. They are used in design and development processes to foster empathy and guide decision-making by keeping the user at the center. This methodology helps teams understand and prioritize features that resonate with real users.

Also known as: Personas, User Archetypes, Customer Personas, UX Personas, Proto-Personas

Why learn User Personas?

Developers should learn user personas when working on user-centric products, such as in agile or UX-driven projects, to align technical decisions with user needs and reduce assumptions. It is particularly valuable in software development for creating intuitive interfaces, validating requirements, and improving collaboration between developers, designers, and stakeholders.

Learning Resources

• docs: Nielsen Norman Group: Personas
• tutorial: Interaction Design Foundation: Personas
• course: Coursera: User Experience Research and Design
• video: YouTube: How to Create a User Persona