What is the purpose of an empathy map in UX design?

The purpose of an empathy map in UX design is to gather user insights and feelings. This tool is designed to help teams visualize and understand the experiences, thoughts, emotions, and needs of their users. By breaking down user behavior into distinct sections—such as what users say, think, feel, and do—designers gain a more profound understanding of the users' perspectives. This understanding is crucial in creating designs that resonate with the target audience, ensuring that the final product truly meets their needs.

In contrast to the other options, creating a marketing strategy focuses on promoting products rather than understanding the user experience. Documenting financial aspects addresses the budget and resources for a project, which is not the goal of an empathy map. Likewise, detailing technical specifications involves outlining the technological requirements of a project, which does not relate to users' feelings or insights. Thus, the core function of an empathy map is to enhance user-centered design by explicitly documenting and synthesizing user insights and emotional responses.