How to compose an empathy map in UX
It’s all about understanding our users’ perspectives and pain points
An empathy map is an excellent reference and research tool to aggregate important user insights, thoughts, feelings, and actions.
UX designers have many tools at hand to reference their users, their data, stories, i-statements, and scenarios in a visual format. A user persona is such a tool to present user data in a visually relatable way.
Empathy maps complement user personas, but while a user persona presents the user’s quantifiable data and story, a user empathy map builds a road map of the user’s statements, thoughts, actions, and feelings which can be easily accessed throughout the product development process.
The architecture of an empathy map
In an empathy map, the user is at the center. Their name and activity are entered in the central space. Around the user’s personal information are four quadrant areas.
Each area serves to highlight a particular topic of feedback pulled from user interviews, observations during the interviews, or audio recordings from phone interviews.
