Designing for humanity vs. designing for personas

distinction — attributed to Nicole Peck

Peck does not design for geography or job title. A New York ballroom brims with conversational chaos; a Washington audience listens like policy is being shaped on stage. She reads the difference quickly, but the deeper design move is to refuse the persona altogether. People do not arrive as blank slates. They come carrying grief, ambition, boredom, burnout, curiosity, obligation. Warmth only works when it acknowledges the full person, not just the badge they are wearing.

For designers who reduce attendees to personas instead of treating them as full people.

personas, humanity, attendee-experience, design-philosophy