What are personae in design?

Personae in design are detailed profiles that represent the primary target audience, specifically the 'typical' stakeholder or user of a product or service. They are crafted based on research, including user interviews, surveys, and observational studies, in order to embody the key traits, needs, preferences, and behaviors of actual users.

Creating personae involves synthesizing data into characters that reflect your audience's motivations, goals, and challenges, making it easier for designers to tailor solutions that meet those users’ specific needs. By using personae, design teams can maintain a user-centered approach throughout the design process, ensuring that the final product is relevant and effective for its intended users.

In contrast, the other answer choices do not convey the nuanced understanding of personae. Generic users without specific needs do not capture the unique, detailed profiles that personae represent. False representations of target users imply a lack of authenticity that undermines the purpose of personae. Random samples of the general population lack the focus on specific characteristics and insights that personae are built upon, making them less useful for targeted design efforts. Therefore, the option describing personae as the primary target audience accurately aligns with their intended purpose in design.