Create an Empathy Map
Demonstrate your empathy skills by building an empathy map based on user research.
The scenario
Use the scenario to understand the project context and what you’ll be working on.
You are a UX designer in the financial industry. Before diving into full-fledged research and exploring user pain points and needs, your team has decided to brainstorm and generate hypotheses by using an empathy map.
Details
Your task
Here’s what you need to do for your project:
- Select a financial platform (banking, investment, insurance, etc.) and the device type for your design.
- Conduct user research to understand your target audience's pain points.
- Build an empathy map based on understanding users' needs and preferences gathered during research.
- Define the insights gathered in the process of empathy mapping.
- Use the provided empathy mapping templates to showcase your designs.
Instructions
Read the instructions to ensure your project receives maximum visibility.
- You can edit your project at any time.
- Remember to share your submission with your community. The more reviews and views it receives, the quicker it will be seen by Uxcel Mentors.
- After submitting your project, consider reviewing others' projects. This can enhance your project's discoverability.
- Ensure you only submit your own work.
Evaluation criteria
Your project will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Detail— How detailed is the work to provide a clear picture of the target audience?
Credibility— How accurate is work representation and how reliable are the data collected from the target user group?
Insightfulness— How insightful is the work into user behavior and preferences?
Templates
Recommended learning
External resources
Topics
Share
Top project submissions
Project
FinEase Mobile
Design Task OverviewSelected Financial Platform: Mobile Banking Application Product Name: FinEase Mobile Device Type: Smartphone User Resear
Project
Insurance App Empathy Map
OverviewFinancial platform: insurance app Product: Nh1816 Verzekeringen (Dutch insurance company) Device: Smartphone (iPhone 12) User resear
Project
Empathy Mapping
Financial Platform: Mobile Banking App for Millennials Device Type: Smartphone Target Audience: Millennials (ages 25-40) User Research: To u
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FAQs
What are Uxcel Briefs?
Uxcel Briefs are hands-on, real-world project challenges designed to help learners apply their skills in practical product scenarios. Each Brief simulates a situation you might encounter in a modern product team—requiring critical thinking, creativity, and user-focused solutions.
Briefs cover a variety of topics aligned with Uxcel’s six core skill categories: UX Research, Visual Design, Interaction Design, Content Strategy, Product Thinking, and Leadership. They include a clear scenario, task, recommended tools, and curated resources to guide your approach. By completing a Brief, you can sharpen your problem-solving skills, grow your portfolio, and receive expert feedback from mentors.
Briefs cover a variety of topics aligned with Uxcel’s six core skill categories: UX Research, Visual Design, Interaction Design, Content Strategy, Product Thinking, and Leadership. They include a clear scenario, task, recommended tools, and curated resources to guide your approach. By completing a Brief, you can sharpen your problem-solving skills, grow your portfolio, and receive expert feedback from mentors.
Who are Uxcel Briefs for?
Anyone looking to strengthen their product thinking and communication skills can benefit from Briefs. While they're especially useful for designers, they’re also valuable for product managers, researchers, content strategists, and aspiring professionals who want to learn how to break down product challenges and present thoughtful solutions.
How do I earn a high score on a Brief?
Start by studying the scenario and completion criteria closely. Uxcel provides relevant lessons and resources to help you prepare before diving into the challenge. Treat each Brief like a real-world project: brainstorm ideas, consider multiple approaches, and test your decisions.
Strong submissions typically go through multiple iterations and demonstrate both problem-solving and attention to detail. You’ll also improve faster by reflecting on mentor feedback, identifying patterns in your mistakes, and applying those lessons to future projects.
Strong submissions typically go through multiple iterations and demonstrate both problem-solving and attention to detail. You’ll also improve faster by reflecting on mentor feedback, identifying patterns in your mistakes, and applying those lessons to future projects.
How can I submit a Brief?
Anyone can access and complete Briefs, but only Pro members can submit their work for professional feedback from Uxcel mentors. If you're not a Pro member, you can still work on the Brief and seek feedback from peers or within the Uxcel community.
When submitting a Brief, you'll upload a showcase image, give your project a name, and write a brief description. For tips on effective submissions, check out our best practices here.
When submitting a Brief, you'll upload a showcase image, give your project a name, and write a brief description. For tips on effective submissions, check out our best practices here.
Who reviews my Brief submission?
Submitted Briefs are reviewed by Uxcel Mentors—experienced professionals from top companies who offer clear, actionable feedback. In addition, your project will be published to the Showcase page, where community members can comment, like, and offer their own perspectives. This peer engagement helps simulate a real-world design review process.
How long does it take to get feedback?
Mentor reviews typically arrive within 24–48 hours after submission. The more active your Brief is—through likes and community engagement—the more visible it becomes on the Showcase page.
Pro tip: Share your submission with your network to increase visibility and feedback. Our algorithm takes likes and reviews into account when ranking projects on the Showcase page.
Pro tip: Share your submission with your network to increase visibility and feedback. Our algorithm takes likes and reviews into account when ranking projects on the Showcase page.
Can I redo a Brief or submit more than once?
Yes! Briefs are built for practice and improvement. You can revisit the same Brief to iterate on your previous work or try a different approach. Submitting multiple times helps reinforce learning, build confidence, and track your growth over time.
Do Briefs help me build a portfolio?
Absolutely. Each completed Brief can serve as a portfolio project that demonstrates your ability to think through problems, craft user-centered solutions, and communicate your process. It’s a great way to showcase your skills to hiring managers or teammates in a credible, structured format.