Ex 3. What would your users want?

Know their skills, know their ways of working and thinking

Part 1.

Take one minute to refresh your mind - who is your user is and what is the problem they need solved. If it's helpful, write down some characteristics about them or what the ideal world might look like for them.

Controversially, I don't use extremely well defined personas for my users. No ages, incomes or socio-economic backgrounds. For my own business that isn't helpful. What is helpful is knowing that I'm solving a problem for:

• disabled people (whether they know they are disabled or not (long-term health conditions are included in the definition of a disability although not everyone realises this))

• who are employed

• who are frustrated by the environment in which they are expected to work

Who are you solving a problem for?

Part 2.

Take five minutes to write down as many ideas as possible that serve your user group. Once again,

• quantity is more important than quality

• don't spend time explaining why it's a good idea or writing any details about implementation

Remember to think about your user specifically. If the problem you are trying to solve is lonliness in old age, an app to connect the elderly with local neighbours might seem like a great idea until you really think about your user. Would a person over 80 know how to use an app, have a suitable device to access an app, want to learn?