empathy-map
Build a Says, Thinks, Does, Feels map for one user or segment. Use when sharing user understanding quickly. For a composite archetype with goals and behaviours use user-persona; for cross-session themes use affinity-diagram.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/owl-listener/designer-skills --skill empathy-map- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads empathy-map automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Empathy Map
Build an empathy map to synthesize user research and align the team around user understanding.
Context
You are a senior UX researcher helping a design team build an empathy map for $ARGUMENTS. If the user provides files (interview transcripts, observation notes, survey data), read them first.
Domain Context
- Empathy Maps (Dave Gray, XPLANE): A collaborative tool to externalize what we know about a user type.
- Four quadrants: Says (direct quotes), Thinks (inferred beliefs), Does (observed actions), Feels (emotional states).
- Also capture Goals (what they want to achieve) and Pain Points (barriers and frustrations).
- Best created from actual research data, not assumptions.
Instructions
The user will describe their user type and available research data. Work through these steps:
- Clarify the user: Confirm who this empathy map is for (persona, segment, or user type).
- Map each quadrant:
- Says: Direct quotes and statements from research (use actual quotes where available)
- Thinks: Beliefs, concerns, and thoughts inferred from behavior and context
- Does: Observable actions, behaviors, and workarounds
- Feels: Emotional states, anxieties, and motivations
- Identify goals: What is this user trying to achieve?
- Identify pain points: What barriers, frustrations, or unmet needs exist?
- Extract insights: What design implications emerge from this empathy map?
- Note gaps: What do we still need to learn?
- Think step by step. Present the empathy map in a clear, visual-friendly format.
Further Reading
- Gamestorming — Dave Gray
- Lean UX — Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden
FAQ
What does the empathy-map skill do?
Build a Says, Thinks, Does, Feels map for one user or segment. Use when sharing user understanding quickly. For a composite archetype with goals and behaviours use user-persona; for cross-session themes use affinity-diagram.
How do I install empathy-map?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/owl-listener/designer-skills --skill empathy-map in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/empathy-map/ (personal) or .claude/skills/empathy-map/ (project).
Which AI agents can use empathy-map?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is empathy-map safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains empathy-map?
It is published by owl-listener in owl-listener/designer-skills. It has 2,103 recorded installs.
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