What is the primary benefit of using user personas in design?

User personas serve as fictional representations of various user segments, encompassing their goals, motivations, behaviors, and pain points. The primary benefit of using user personas in design is that they guide and inform design decisions by providing a clearer understanding of the target audience's needs and expectations. By creating detailed personas, designers can empathize with users and tailor products to better meet their requirements, leading to more user-centered designs. This process ultimately enhances usability and satisfaction, as the design evolves to solve real problems faced by users.

In contrast, the other options do not capture the true essence of what personas are designed to do. Ensuring every design looks the same does not align with the purpose of personas, which aim to accommodate diverse user needs, not standardize aesthetics. Limiting the target audience runs counter to the goal of inclusivity in design; personas should reflect various segments, not restrict them. Gathering more user data might be an aspect of understanding personas, but the core value lies in how that data translates into empathetic and effective design solutions.