The value of the non-user : developing (non-)user profiles for the development of a robot vacuum with the use of the (non-)persona

Abstract

This contribution explores non-user integration in a product development context of the development of a vacuum robot in order to analyse users as well as non-users of a product. While user profiles like the persona have been part of product development and product design for years, the non-user has not been widely explored. Within this contribution the known concept of the persona is extended and further developed to the non-persona, a profile that describes non-users and why they do not use a certain product, in this case the vacuum robot. Including the non-user in product development offers the chance of addressing yet unidentified product requirements and therefore opening the product up to a bigger audience. This template works for both users and non-users and can be used to include both sides in a development project.