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from benry blog
"I spent part of this week discussing with a variety of people the different between User Profiles and Personas. The terms, while often used interchangeably, it turns out are actually quite different and refer to different parts of the process in determining 'who' you are designing for. "
He pinged me for my definition, and it raised a lot of interesting questions for me about what is it you need to know about your audience to assure effective design. I hope one day Cooper finally writes a book detailing their persona process... there is obviously a market for it. Inmates is a tease-- it suggests what is possible but doesn't tell you how; and chapter 7 in Blueprints is an introduction to that how. But really, the techniques of personas and scenarios are rich and complex enough that they deserve a full fledged book.
They are quite different. The new edition of About Face will cover more Cooper process in it. The new one is do out in a few months. Last I heard was February, but probably a little later.
I use personas for... personas, and then "user archetypes" for probably what you're referring to as a profile.
A persona, for me, is 29 year old Bob who reads old LeCarre novels.
An archetype is a returning website user who has already registered and needs to sign in.
Is that what you were referring to as a profile?
I use personas for... personas, and then "user archetypes" for probably what you're referring to as a profile.
A persona, for me, is 29 year old Bob who reads old LeCarre novels.
An archetype is a returning website user who has already registered and needs to sign in.
Is that what you were referring to as a profile?