Personas

Purpose

Personas help us design with specific users in mind rather than trying to design for “everyone.” At this stage, you’re practicing the structure and storytelling of personas, not yet grounding them in real research.

Instructions

Create two personas for your semester project. Each persona should be presented on one page. Use Miro, InDesign, or another design tool.

Required Elements

Each persona must include:

1. Name (fictional, but realistic)

2. Photo/sketch

3. Background & demographics (only details relevant to context — e.g., student, commuter, part-time worker)

4. Goals & motivations → what they want to accomplish and why

5. Frustrations & pain points → obstacles or challenges they face

6. Behaviors & context → habits, routines, or situations where they encounter the problem

7. Quote or summary statement → a sentence that captures their outlook

Tips for Success

• Avoid vague or generic personas (“average student”) → make them feel specific and human.

• Don’t overload with irrelevant details (no “likes pineapple pizza” unless it affects their behaviors).

• Presentation matters → clear hierarchy, readable layout, consistent style.

• Use design choices (fonts, colors, layout) to make the persona engaging but professional.

Evaluation

• Clarity & Specificity (3 pts): Persona is distinct and believable.

• Goals & Motivations (3 pts): Clearly defined and relevant.

• Frustrations & Behaviors (3 pts): Capture meaningful challenges and context.

• Professional Aesthetics (3.5 pts): Layout is clean, visually engaging, and easy to understand.