Persona Generator

Persona Generator

Purpose

Create evidence-based user personas focused on behaviors, goals, and pain points — not demographics alone.

Input: Target user segment, problem statement (optional), research data (optional) Output: Persona document with empathy map, behavioral traits, and scenario triggers Examples: See [examples.md](examples.md) for worked input/output.

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Workflow

Step 1: Define persona scope

Confirm:

• One persona per Skill execution (not persona sets)
• Primary vs secondary persona (if multiple requested, pick primary first)
• Segment boundaries (role, context, experience level)

Step 2: Gather behavioral evidence

Collect or request:

• Observed behaviors (not just stated preferences)
• Goals and motivations
• Pain points and frustrations
• Tools and workflows currently used
• Decision-making triggers

Step 3: Build empathy map

Fill four quadrants:

| Says | Thinks | |------|--------| | [Quotes or paraphrased statements] | [Unspoken concerns] |

| Does | Feels | |------|-------| | [Observed actions] | [Emotional states] |

Step 4: Define persona profile

Include:

• Name (fictional label, not a real person claim)
• Role and context
• Goals (primary and secondary)
• Pain points (ranked by severity)
• Success definition (what "winning" looks like for them)
• Anti-goals (what they actively avoid)

Step 5: Add scenario triggers

Describe 2–3 situations that activate the persona's need.

Step 6: Validate

Run Validation checklist.

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Decision Rules

| Condition | Action | |-----------|--------| | Only demographics provided (age, gender) | Request behavioral and goal data | | Persona based on assumptions only | Mark all traits as "assumed"; list validation needed | | Multiple segments in one request | Ask user to pick primary segment | | Contradictory behaviors in input | Surface contradiction; ask for clarification | | Research data conflicts with stated segment | Flag conflict; prioritize research data |

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Validation

• [ ] Exactly one persona produced
• [ ] Empathy map has content in all four quadrants
• [ ] At least 3 pain points ranked by severity
• [ ] Goals are behavioral, not feature wishes
• [ ] Assumed traits clearly marked vs evidence-based
• [ ] 2–3 scenario triggers defined
• [ ] No stereotyping or unsupported demographic generalizations

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Anti-patterns

• Demographic persona — "35-year-old male, likes technology" without behaviors.
• Ideal user fantasy — persona with no pain points or trade-offs.
• Feature wishlist persona — goals listed as "wants feature X".
• Multiple personas at once — dilutes focus and validation.
• Presenting assumptions as facts — not marking unvalidated traits.

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Best Practices

• Base personas on observed behavior patterns, not market segments alone.
• Use empathy map before writing narrative profile.
• Include anti-goals to prevent scope creep in later Skills.
• Reference problem statement if available from prior Skill.
• Recommend 3–5 user interviews to validate assumed traits.

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Output Structure

# Persona: [Name] — [Role]

## Profile
- **Segment:** [description]
- **Context:** [work/life situation]
- **Experience level:** [novice/intermediate/expert]

## Empathy Map
[Four quadrants table]

## Goals
| Priority | Goal |
|----------|------|

## Pain Points
| Severity | Pain Point | Evidence |
|----------|------------|----------|

## Success Definition
[What winning looks like]

## Anti-goals
- [What they avoid]

## Scenario Triggers
1. [Situation] → [need activated]

## Validation Status
| Trait | Status (evidence/assumed) |
|-------|---------------------------|

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Next Skills

| Outcome | Recommended Skill | |---------|-------------------| | Persona validated, need vision | product/product-vision-builder | | Need to re-validate idea | product/idea-validator | | Ready for problem refinement | product/problem-statement-builder | | Ready for feature decisions | product/feature-prioritization |

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: patonkikh
• Source: patonkikh/APES
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.