Designed for Use, 2nd Edition

Personas Do Not Replace User Research

When using personas, it’s tempting to assume that since “Emma” knows how to use her computer and we designed the product for people like her, we don’t have to involve actual users in our design anymore. That would be wrong.

Personas can help you communicate with other people involved in the design process, evaluate data from user research, and use that data when making design decisions. But they shouldn’t replace actual users. You still need to test your design with real people to make sure it works.