What are personas in UX design?

Personas in UX design are fictional characters that represent different user types within a targeted demographic. They are created based on research and data gathered about the users, including their behaviors, needs, motivations, and pain points. By integrating these characteristics into personas, designers can better empathize with their users and make informed design decisions that cater to the specific needs of various user segments.

The use of personas helps to humanize the user experience, providing a relatable figure that design teams can reference throughout the design process. This approach ensures that the final product aligns more closely with user expectations and leads to a more user-centered design outcome. It is essential for designers to focus on the user experience and view decisions from the users' perspective, which personas facilitate effectively.

Other options like data analysis techniques, methods of customer interaction, and branding strategies do not capture the essence of personas in UX design, which are fundamentally about understanding and visualizing user characteristics to guide the design process.