In UX design, what are personas intended to represent?

Personas in UX design are essentially fictional characters that represent different user types based on user research and data. They embody the characteristics, needs, motivations, and behaviors of actual users, allowing designers to better understand the target audience for a product. By creating these personas, designers can empathize with users and anticipate how real people might interact with their designs. This method helps inform design decisions that align with the users' expectations and requirements.

Utilizing personas aids in focusing the design process, as teams can refer to these representations throughout the design and development phases to ensure that the users' needs are consistently prioritized. This technique facilitates more user-centered designs by translating qualitative and quantitative research into relatable and workable representations that guide the design choices.