UX Researcher & Designer
Generate user personas from research data, create journey maps, plan usability tests, and synthesize research findings into actionable design recommendations.
Table of Contents
Trigger Terms
Use this skill when you need to:
- "create user persona"
- "generate persona from data"
- "build customer journey map"
- "map user journey"
- "plan usability test"
- "design usability study"
- "analyze user research"
- "synthesize interview findings"
- "identify user pain points"
- "define user archetypes"
- "calculate research sample size"
- "create empathy map"
- "identify user needs"
Workflows
Workflow 1: Generate User Persona
Situation: You have user data (analytics, surveys, interviews) and need to create a research-backed persona.
Steps:
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Prepare user data
Required format (JSON):
-
Run persona generator
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Review generated components
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Validate persona
- Show to 3-5 real users: "Does this sound like you?"
- Cross-check with support tickets
- Verify against analytics data
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Reference: See
references/persona-methodology.mdfor validity criteria
Workflow 2: Create Journey Map
Situation: You need to visualize the end-to-end user experience for a specific goal.
Steps:
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Define scope
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Gather journey data
Sources:
- User interviews (ask "walk me through...")
- Session recordings
- Analytics (funnel, drop-offs)
- Support tickets
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Map the stages
Typical B2B SaaS stages:
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Fill in layers for each stage
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Identify opportunities
Priority Score = Frequency × Severity × Solvability
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Reference: See
references/journey-mapping-guide.mdfor templates
Workflow 3: Plan Usability Test
Situation: You need to validate a design with real users.
Steps:
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Define research questions
Transform vague goals into testable questions:
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Select method
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Design tasks
Good task format:
Task progression: Warm-up → Core → Secondary → Edge case → Free exploration
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Define success metrics
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Prepare moderator guide
- Think-aloud instructions
- Non-leading prompts
- Post-task questions
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Reference: See
references/usability-testing-frameworks.mdfor full guide
Workflow 4: Synthesize Research
Situation: You have raw research data (interviews, surveys, observations) and need actionable insights.
Steps:
-
Code the data
Tag each data point:
[GOAL]- What they want to achieve[PAIN]- What frustrates them[BEHAVIOR]- What they actually do[CONTEXT]- When/where they use product[QUOTE]- Direct user words
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Cluster similar patterns
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Calculate segment sizes
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Extract key findings
For each theme:
- Finding statement
- Supporting evidence (quotes, data)
- Frequency (X/Y participants)
- Business impact
- Recommendation
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Prioritize opportunities
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Reference: See
references/persona-methodology.mdfor analysis framework
Tool Reference
persona_generator.py
Generates data-driven personas from user research data.
Sample Output:
Archetypes Generated:
Output Components:
Quick Reference Tables
Research Method Selection
Persona Confidence Levels
Usability Issue Severity
Interview Question Types
Knowledge Base
Detailed reference guides in references/:
Validation Checklist
Persona Quality
- Based on 20+ users (minimum)
- At least 2 data sources (quant + qual)
- Specific, actionable goals
- Frustrations include frequency counts
- Design implications are specific
- Confidence level stated
Journey Map Quality
- Scope clearly defined (persona, goal, timeframe)
- Based on real user data, not assumptions
- All layers filled (actions, touchpoints, emotions)
- Pain points identified per stage
- Opportunities prioritized
Usability Test Quality
- Research questions are testable
- Tasks are realistic scenarios, not instructions
- 5+ participants per design
- Success metrics defined
- Findings include severity ratings
Research Synthesis Quality
- Data coded consistently
- Patterns based on 3+ data points
- Findings include evidence
- Recommendations are actionable
- Priorities justified
Related Skills
- UI Design System (
product-team/ui-design-system/) — Research findings inform design system decisions - Product Manager Toolkit (
product-team/product-manager-toolkit/) — Customer interview analysis complements persona research

