OUGD504 - Studio Brief 2 - Personas

Personas 

After reading about personas and defining users in the book 'Interactive Design' it was considered that different characteristics of creatives that could potentially use the site should be written out. Once this was done they were arranged into groups to create different types of people. From this the personas could be developed further allowing each character to have a background ,which helped to define why the user would use the site and what they wanted from it. 

Persona 1

70+
Name: Betty
Betty is recently retired and has a lot of spare time now. She used to work as a seamstress so has always enjoyed crafting things and is skilled in this field of work. Her husband died a few years ago, so she has found new ways to keep in socially engaged. As a hobby she knits and crochets scarves and blankets for friends and family that are expecting babies. She has also recently joined the local knitting club as a way of making new friends. She enjoys going on day trips, attending coffee mornings and visiting family. She occasionally looks after the grandchildren and enjoys playing in the park with them. She has a basic computer skills and uses Skype to keep in contact with her family and has a simple phone that she can text and make calls on. 

Needs:
She needs to be able to buy a variety of wools at affordable prices that can be delivered quickly for her next projects.   

Persona 2

Student
Name: Lauren
Lauren is a 19 year old university student who is studying Product Design. She often needs a range of specialist materials for different projects. As a an art student she has a mix of creative interests and influences, so uses social media sites such as Instagram as a way of following her favourite designers. She has a keen interest in fashion and enjoys keeping up with the latest trends. She has a limited budget so has to be resourceful however has recently got a part time job as a waitress in a local restaurant.


Needs:
She needs to source Balsa wood on a budget for her new project. She has a lot of spare foamboard that she could sell to put towards the cost of the Balsa wood.

Persona 3

Hobbyist
Name: Helen
Helen is 40 years old and has an office job working in finance, which can be stressful and means working long hours. She has two teenage children and is divorced so is the main earner within the house. She uses Yoga and Pilates as a way to relax. At weekends she spends time making pop up cards which she gives to friends and relatives and she occassionally sells them online which she enjoys. She often uses online delivery for clothes and food shopping as she doesn't have much time during the week to visit the shops.  

Needs:
She needs to be able to find a variety of papers for the creation of her cards.  

Persona 4

Restorer
Name: David
David is a 55 year restorer of period and contemporary furniture which means he has to find materials that are sensitive to the time period he is working in. He often finds it hard to find good quality wood that is aged, especially because furniture today is not made to the same standard. His job means he is highly skilled and it requires attention to detail. 

Needs:
He needs to be able to find quality reclaimed, aged wood to fit in with the period of his latest chair project. From his business he has a lot of good quality upholstery scraps which could be used by someone else.

Persona 5

Maker / Designer
Name: Ben
Ben is a 35 year old woodworker who primarily specialises in making kitchen utensils for luxury designer brands. He uses a variety of woods to create unique items in limited runs, with a focus on quality not the quantity of the product. He has a website and uses social media as a way of exposing his work and process to a wider audience.  He is currently in a relationship and enjoys walking, climbing and exploring the outdoors. His keen interest for the environment provides a range of inspirations for his work.

Needs:
He wants to find some mahogany to experiment with for a new range of products and has a selection of large wood scraps that are not suitable for his work but could be used for other purposes so he wants to sell them.

Persona 6

Teacher
Name: Alice
Alice is a 29 year old primary school teacher who runs an after school art club every week. She is often busy planning lessons and marking work most nights so has little spare time. Her art classes provide a space for the children to play, have fun and do things they might not be able to do at home. She is currently single however enjoys eating at restaurants and visiting the cinema with friends. As a keen cook she likes to find new recipes to try and thinks it is important to eat healthily. 

Needs:
She wants to find a range of colourful materials that can be used for collaging, drawing and painting. 

Persona 7

DIY Enthusiast
Name: Trevor
Trevor is 47 years old and is a manager within a shoe shop. He has a wife and three children which he enjoys spending time with at weekends. At weekends he does home improvements both indoors and out as a way of saving money. He has a variety of tools for different jobs however cannot always find the correct materials in small quantities. He values finding unique items to bring character to his home that would otherwise be expensive if bought. He enjoys cycling and has recently joined the local club. He is competent using computers as he often has to buy in stock for the shop. His Facebook account allows him to keep in contact with friends and family.

Needs:
He wants to buy some bits of coloured acrylic to make a shelving unit for one of his children.

Moving Forwards

The personas chosen to be used in the rest of the project will be Ben the Maker / Designer , Lauren the Student and Helen the Hobbyist. These I think give a good overview of the different areas that make up 'creatives', from hobbyists to professionals.