Archetypes VS personas for UX and strategic design? Keen to hear other opinions on which are more valuable for different situations and why!

like
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

Personally I prefer archetypes over personas.

Personas - a fictional character used to define a group of users.

Archetype - an abstract label that represents a group of users.

Both represent similar information, but a persona has a “person” attached to the information presented. For example:

There is a user who loves social media and is driven by increased engagement.

Persona: Stacy, 24, lives in the city is eager to create content bc … but her pain points are…

Archetype: the influencer is eager to create content, but some pain points for this user type are…

I personally don’t like creating a fictional character because you get hyper focused on that specific character rather than user group

like

Same on preferring archetypes to personas in most cases (sometimes i do prefer a persona). I’ve found that when using personas people become hung up on the demographics - gender/age and make assumptions that are not represented at all in the persona. Ive been able to avoid these by utilizing archetypes and removing that noise to focus on needs and behaviors

like

Interestingly, I'd recommend archetype for strategy and persona for ux design.

Archetypes, by definition, are generalized subset of the population with common tendencies. Pros: by the time it's an archetype, it would have to include a significant subset of the population. So your strategy would address a significant percent of PMS.

However, when it comes to UX, you want to get into the nuanced. When you dive deeper into your offering vs the landscape and competitors. You may find that your common users have different nuances that differentiate them from consumers who go to your competitors. Or, your brand may be perceived slightly differently than your competitors and you have relatively nuanced brand promise that your need to fulfill. Personas allow you to dive deeper into specific needs or behavioral tendencies that are more actionable in user flows. And you may even have more than one Personas within an architype.

So to me, archetypes address than 30 thousand feet, but Personas address the 50 feet.

Obviously, (as you can tell), I'm in a world where there are different needs for both. Not the case for every product or business types.

like

I recently did an engagement for a client where we kind of did both. We did the background research on users and grouped them by demographics but then we also cross referenced them to single-interest groups. (Gardening, historic renovation, exploring, antiques) Because interests are easier to target in social media. Based on this, I think I lean more toward archetype than persona. My feeling is that the strict persona exercise is becoming less and less useful. It made sense when advertising was more of a demo-targeted tactic.

like

I often feel personas can sway too far into demographics, which can be misleading particularly in businesses where there is low design maturity. I’ve seen this in organisations where employees from other areas will take the personas and use them thinking the user group MUST have x,y,x demographic information to be true (particularly getting way to tied to age etc.) . Archetypes are more based on universal behaviours regardless of demographics. For example two people may be very similar in demographic information, things they like etc. but have very behaviours and needs.

like

OP, I feel like we need this on a slide.

Post Photo
like

We use archetypes for institutions and personas for people (service design)

like

Great question. How do you define each?

like

Interesting thoughts out here! I’m curious to know how is “profile” different from “archetypes”? If persona is derived from archetype, the same used to be the case for persona being derived from a profile…

like

Thank you. And not all user research are the same. If you send a strategist, a marketer, and a ux designer to conduct "user research", you'd yield pretty different results.

This article rings true to me. And I will incorporate this in my future thinking:

https://www.method.com/insights/how-to-use-personas-and-archetypes-to-drive-shared-understanding-and-digital-strategy/

Archetypes are more psychologically driven. You get into motivation, intention, and drives. But they are not empathic. Personas are based on empathy thus get more into specific behaviors and sentiments.

To me this may fit into my model above. But I'll work with them in the future with a different lens.

like

Both are often useless, because 90% of researchers create them incorrectly. They fill in the blanks with biased assumptions, based on a solution they already thought of. Or, they fill in the blanks with too much irrelevant, useless info that points to no insight.

A correctly-made persona is supposed to work exactly the same as an archetype. A good persona IS an archetype. The original purpose for a persona over an archetype was so that a UXer or stakeholder could imagine the user in an clearer way, because UXers and stakeholders had trouble empathizing with an amorphous archetype. It was simply easier to imagine the archetype as “Jane.”

But the problem with “Jane” was that researchers got carried away and played dress-up, tediously itemizing “Jane’s” hobbies and habits, wholly forgetting that Jane the *persona* was just a name attached to an *archetype* that’s supposed to help us build a better product. It’s not supposed to be “Jane’s” dossier or online dating profile.

UX researchers are often PhD’s in psychology. But many don’t know that the purpose of personas/archetypes are to find actionable insights to discover product or feature utility. Too many UX researchers have no training whatsoever in applied UX strategy for *products.*

like

UX = behaviours, motivations, needs and pain points over demographics and the audience segmentation you’d typically see in media personas/profiles

Post Photo

Related Posts

I am preparing for a virtual day with 3 three interviews on the same day: case, technical & behavior.

That seems pretty intense. What can I expect? Any tips and/or pointers will be greatly appreciated if.

likehelpful

Does BCG sponsor MBA programs when joining as an Associate? If so, what are the requirements (specific MBA programs/performance/etc.)? Particularly interested in Milan and Paris offices.

like

Thinking about buying a IWC Portuguese. Any experience or thoughts on the general brand and specific watch?

like

Looking 2 move into industry but most stats on this forum are 4 USD. Directors/partners in the US make 300K-1M - ones here probably make 200K-500K. What salary range is good for senior industry roles.

like

Hello folks,
Can IBM software labs give 15 lpa (fixed) after negotiation for 2.8 years experience. (current offer: 12.5 out of which 10 fixed)
I am immediate joiner into frontend React.

Insights would be helpful.
Thanks

like

Whats the deal with onshore delivery service (acceleration center for PwC)???

like

I’m currently an SA2 but was offering a 6 month rotation working on product strategy for the firm with a promotion to Manager. Recruiter explained that It’d be at the same base pay with the potential of a raise in June, would you take just a title bump?

like

Hallelujah to MS Word for finally bringing back “add to autocorrect” for misspelled words with the right click! 😅 🤓

like

Going through a breakup and feeling all the ups and downs of this rollercoaster. He spends a year telling me how much he likes me, and then two weeks after we get in a minor argument we see him on Grindr. Man… guys suck.

like

I felt this to my core. The real MVPs.

Post Photo
likefunnyuplifting

Bitcoin or Ethereum?

likesmart

What is the stigma over using the term "resources" instead of team member or colleague? I have an ex McK client who called that out and saw a recent McK post here that did too.

like

Ragazzi.. how’s the compensation in Italy for MBB 1st year BA/Associate?

like

How is e-commerce tech operations role for CA with experience in internal audit. Will this help grow in career

Any good psychology books about love? Feeling desperate!

like

Lease is up at the end of September and making the hard decision to move out of the city instead of renewing, and moving back next year. Very sad bc I’ve remained in the city during the pandemic, but my parents live in North Jersey and there’s no way to justify paying rent if I don’t need to commute. Don’t need advice, just really sad to be out of the city and leaving my apt, but makes the best financial sense 😭

like

Hii Anyone looking to sell a 2nd hand 5 seater couch, coffee table and 3 ergonomics chair? Please tell the lead and also cost for the same

like

I had a patient, a white woman, who felt that she had to explain to me, a black woma, how racist she wasn't by pointing out her biracial kids. Rubbed me the wrong way.

like

Saving up SPG points for honeymoon, anyone have good recommendations/ideas?

like

Additional Posts in Designers

I haven’t been in the market in a long while. What do senior UX designers based in Toronto/GTA with over 5 years experience earn?

How can I figure out what my income increase % will be if my previous roles were hourly/contract? Will be moving into a FT next month.

like

Does it bother anybody else to see “Your designs are pixel perfect” in job descriptions? Nobody’s going to be perfect all the time. Stop expecting that of people.

like

Designers! How often do you buy a new computer? Even if work provides one, how many years should one last?

like

So I've heard from a bunch of people that working as a Product Designer at a FAANG company isn't as glamourous as people make it out to be.

Is there any truth to this? Or is it just bitter people who didn't get hired?

I've heard the work life balance is tough, and that people usually leave after less than 1.5 years because the churn is crazy.

Is it worth going for FAANG companies or nah?

like
like

Curious what you all think the difference is between a mid and senior designer. Additionally to skills, what years of experience goes with each

likehelpful

so apparently now people work second shifts....

Post Photo
funnylike

Advertising art director ( with digital experience ) looking to move to ui/ux.

Should I do an online course or certification?
Is it just being self taught good enough for employers?

Thanks

like

Hi everyone!

I'm Staci, a Senior Graphic Designer // Brand Designer and I'm looking to land a FT remote role asap. I've been applying to 
Disney Streaming Services and Amazon and Pinterest would love a referral if anyone would like to help. I'd gladly share my resume and folio link via DM!

I'm also open to other opportunities in various industries and companies*

If anyone knows of a Senior Graphic Designer (open to mid level) role at the company they work at send me a DM!

Thank you !

like

Any ux designers willing to give feedback on a website redesign project I’m working on currently?

like

Does your office have a camera on policy? Just wondering how common this is.

like

Is it bad or good to specialize in designing Native mobile apps?

I've been in the UI/UX field for 3+ years and have only had the chance to work on Native apps. (No web design)

I love app design!!

like

McKinsey & Company Hey there!
I have an interview at McKinsey Design for the Designer role. Any thoughts? How’s culture, work life balance, projects, etc? McKinsey & Company

likesmart

What’s the best way to get into UX/UI design? I’m a traditional in-house senior graphic designer but at my job it’d be a helpful skill to know. Did you guys just do a boot camp or separate trainings? What worked for you?

like

Hello everyone. What skills do you think would be good to learn for someone trying to transition into UX, specifically for UX Research?

like

I currently lead a team of UX consultants working at an enterprise client. Recently, the consulting company got another enterprise client asking for a single UX resource and I am seriously considering it to diversify my experience. My concern is because this is a one UX resource request, leaving my current leadership position to become an Agile team feeding, UI-producing consultant. What are the questions you ask the client before you switch to another billable project to mitigate such risks?

like
like

UX Designers/ Product designers: how many hours a week do you typically work, and have you dealt with pressure to work longer hours? If so how have you dealt with that pressure?

I am a relatively junior designer who is salaried and could use some advice.

like

Is it a bad idea to admit to your coworkers/ team leaders that you’re working on other freelance design projects outside of work?

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Send download link to your phone

OR

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Messaging rates may apply

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal