User profiling

Definition: Use this design method to define and communicate the characteristics of a user, or groups of users. Having user profiles available during the design process will help stimulate ideas and aid decision making. How Based on actual research of your user groups (see 1:1 Interviews, Market Information and User Observation), develop different character profiles to represent your users. Give the users names and visually represent how they look and dress, their aspirations, behaviour, lifestyle and any challenging peculiarities. It is important to make profiles of extreme users for this. It can also be useful to write ‘stories’ about a typical day in their life. Prominently display the profiles. They will help you to stay on course and should stop you from designing for yourself. At decision points, ask yourself, ‘What would Mary or John think of this?’ Source: Livework Studio Ltd Links: User Profiling in IDEO, Methods Deck, 2003: click here