"As a user" needs to stop cover image
User-Centered Design

"As a user" needs to stop

Transform generic user stories into meaningful narratives that drive empathy and innovation.

Janet Taylor
Jul 31, 2017 • 3 min read
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Intermediate
Empathy-driven Design
Personas
User Empathy
User Needs Identification
User-centered Approaches

Summary

This resource challenges the traditional approach to writing user stories, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding real user needs. It critiques the use of generic 'as a user' statements and advocates for more descriptive personas that reflect the user's real-world context and challenges. By focusing on the human aspect, it encourages product teams to create meaningful user stories that truly resonate and drive product innovation. Dive in to discover how to make your user stories impactful and user-centric.

Takeaways

  • Avoid generic 'as a user' statements; focus on the user's true goals and needs.
  • Empower design and engineering teams to handle technical details, keeping user stories centered on user goals.
  • Use detailed personas to gain a clearer picture of the user's challenges and objectives.
  • User stories should create empathy by focusing on real people, not abstract users.
  • User stories should highlight the user's journey and real-life impact, making them the hero.

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