User Research » Personas

A process of user research can give answers to the basic questions about any site:

  • Who will use the site?
  • What are they trying to achieve?
    • Getting information
    • Achieve a goal
      • Book something
      • Order something
      • Log personal info - e.g. to-do lists, benchmarking progress, wish lists, building a profile
      • 'Waste time' - e.g. watch video, chat, network.
  • What is the user's background and familiarity with the internet?

Why do we need to know this? It helps with choosing the appropriate design patterns.

Personas help give a better example of who will be using the site - personas can be named and have photos, backgrounds, hobbies, interests.

Draft persona for a CD sales site

This leads to a goal-oriented approach...