From Film Sets to UX: Why Every UX Persona Needs a Script

Back in my university days, I took on a few part-time jobs to support myself—and one of the most memorable was working as an extra on film sets.

No glamorous roles. No lines. Just me standing in the background, pretending to sip coffee in a fake café, or walking past the camera like I had somewhere important to be.

But here’s the unexpected part:

The best moments didn’t happen on camera.
They happened between takes—chatting with actors.

The Question That Changed My Thinking

One afternoon, while waiting for a scene reset, I found myself standing next to one of the main actors. Out of curiosity, I asked:

“How do you become that character so convincingly?”

Most of the actors gave me answers you'd expect:

"It just comes naturally."
"You feel it in the moment."
"It’s just talent."

But one response stood out. It was different.
It was practical.

“There’s a single script that captures the character’s emotions and intent. Every time I return to set, I read that script to reconnect.”

That line stuck with me. Even years later.

Fast Forward: From Film Scripts to UX Personas

Today, I’m a UX designer.

Instead of film sets, I work in Figma files, workshops, and product strategy docs.
Instead of characters, I deal with personas.
But the job? It’s not that different.

Just like actors need to fully inhabit a role to be convincing on screen, designers need to inhabit their user’s mindset to design meaningful experiences.

That’s when it hit me:

Why not create a “script” for each user persona?

The 1-Page Script That Changed How I Design

Now, before I start any project—whether it's discovery, research, wireframing, or usability testing—I return to a simple ritual:

I read a 1-page script I’ve written for the persona I’m designing for.

It’s not a spec sheet.
It’s not a list of demographics.
And it’s definitely not a generic “user bio” that says they’re 32 years old and love productivity tools.

It’s a short, focused piece of writing that captures:

• Their goals

• Their frustrations

• Their beliefs

• Their behaviors

• Their internal dialogue

• Their expectations from the product

It’s written as if they’re talking to me. Like a monologue. A scene. A script.

Why This Works

You might be wondering—what’s the difference between this and a normal persona?

Here’s what makes the “script approach” powerful:

1. It brings empathy to life

Reading a user’s voice before designing helps me reconnect with their reality. It’s grounding. Especially in fast-paced environments where we jump from one stakeholder request to another, it’s easy to forget who we’re designing for.

2. It builds emotional memory

Just like actors use emotional triggers to return to character, this script brings me back to the user’s mindset instantly. I don’t need to re-read 20 pages of research—I just need that one emotional snapshot.

3. It reduces personal bias

Designers are human. We have preferences. But reading the persona’s script reminds me: This isn’t for me. It helps me make decisions based on user context, not personal taste.

What’s Inside My UX Persona Script?

Here's the structure I use. You can adapt it for your own team or product:

🎭 Name & Role

e.g., Amit – Head of Marketing at a 15-person SaaS startup

🧠 Mindset

“I’m juggling growth targets, reporting to the CEO, and managing a small team. I don’t have time to waste on tools that don’t deliver.”

😤 Frustrations

• Too many dashboards, none of them actionable

• Tools that promise a lot but have steep learning curves

• Lack of onboarding support

🎯 Goals

• Increase trial-to-paid conversions

• Get better visibility on campaign performance

• Empower the team to self-serve insights

🗣️ Quote

“If your product doesn’t help me get answers in under 5 minutes, I’m out.”

You can read this in 60 seconds—but it gives you so much to work with.

How This Changes My Design Process

Here’s how I integrate this into my workflow:

1. Before discovery calls
   I read the script to frame better questions. I’m not just asking what they need—I’m anticipating why they need it.

2. While ideating or wireframing
   I literally ask: Would Amit understand this? Would he care? Would this help him hit his goal?

3. Before usability tests
   I remind myself: this isn’t just testing screens. It’s testing how well I’ve served the persona.

4. In stakeholder reviews
   I reference the script when explaining decisions. It’s no longer about “I think this looks better.” It becomes “Amit wouldn’t have time to click through three steps—this shortcut matters to him.”

The Hidden Benefit: Alignment

Here's something else I didn’t expect: this approach helps teams align faster.

When you share a script like this, everyone—PMs, devs, marketers—can get on the same page about who you're building for. You cut through opinion wars and shift the focus back to the user’s narrative.

It becomes easier to make trade-offs because the user’s story is guiding the conversation.

You Don’t Need Talent. Just Tools.

Remember those actors who said, “It’s just talent”?
That’s how a lot of people treat empathy in UX.

But empathy isn’t magic. It’s a muscle.
And like actors use scripts to return to character, we can use persona scripts to return to the user’s mindset.

It’s not about guessing what users want.
It’s about reminding yourself—repeatedly—who they are, how they think, and why your work matters to them.

Want to Try This Yourself?

Here’s how to get started:

1. Pick one high-priority user persona.

2. Review past interviews or insights.

3. Write a 1-page internal script using their language. Be specific.

4. Read it before key UX tasks—discovery, wireframing, testing, presenting.

5. Share it with your team. Get everyone on the same page.

It takes 30 minutes to write. But it can improve every design decision that follows.

Final Thought

Tools will change. Frameworks will evolve. AI will speed things up. But empathy? That’s timeless.

And if you want to build products people love, you’ve got to start with understanding—not assumptions. Start with a script.