What is created in the define phase of UX design?

In the define phase of UX design, a problem statement is created to articulate the core challenge that needs to be addressed. This phase is essential as it synthesizes insights gained during the empathize phase, where user research is conducted to understand user needs and pain points. Formulating a clear problem statement helps to establish a shared understanding among the design team about what direction to pursue and which issues are most critical to resolve.

The problem statement serves as a guiding star throughout the design process, ensuring that all subsequent design decisions are aligned with the identified user needs. It encapsulates the findings from research, providing a focused narrative that directs the ideation in later stages. Having a well-defined problem statement helps avoid ambiguity and ensures that the team remains user-centered in their approach.

In contrast, concepts like user personas, prototypes, and surveys serve different purposes within the overall UX process. User personas are developed to represent target users but are typically created after defining the problem. Prototypes are tangible representations of design ideas that are made in later stages, while surveys are tools utilized during the research phase to gather user data. Therefore, the optimal output of the define phase is a clearly articulated problem statement.