Practice Abstract - Research and innovation

The persona method: an efficient tool to define the future users of a digital platform

To define the target users, the personas method is effective. It involves creating fictitious characters whose characteristics (social and psychological) must be clearly defined beforehand. This method serves: to personify the targets, to put themselves into shoes of the end-users, and to establish the habits of access to the knowledge of these personas. During the building of the persona, this fictitious persona is assigned a series of attributes that enrich its profile to better express the characteristics of the target group. Thanks to these attributes, it then becomes possible to design scenarios for the use of a knowledge platform. The basic description of a persona includes name, gender, age, positioning profiles to digital tools, a lifestyle, and possibly other attributes depending on the field studied. The persona method can be used to select a panel of users who will be involved as test users throughout the process of creating the platform. In the case of EURAKNOS, the different categories of profiles sought are farmers, foresters, advisers, and teachers. Using these test users has the advantage of regularly collecting their opinions, suggestions, and needs to be considered in the platform development process. This multi-actor approach should make it possible to build a tool that considers the needs of end-users to the extent possible and thus develop a tool that is used, recognized, and sustainable.

Source Project
EURAKNOS
Ongoing | 2019-2021
Main funding source
Horizon 2020 (EU Research and Innovation Programme)
Geographical location
Belgium
Project details

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