# Empathy Map

> Build a 4-quadrant empathy map (Says, Thinks, Does, Feels) to synthesize user research into actionable insights. Use when you need to quickly capture and share user understanding across the team.

- Skill: `sethdford/empathy-map` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add sethdford/empathy-map`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/sethdford/empathy-map/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Research & Search
- Author: sethdford (https://skillmd.com/u/sethdford)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/sethdford/empathy-map

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# 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:
     
      - 1. **Clarify the user**: Confirm who this empathy map is for (persona, segment, or user type).
        2. 2. **Map each quadrant**:
           3.    - **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
                                - 3. **Identify goals**: What is this user trying to achieve?
                                  4. 4. **Identify pain points**: What barriers, frustrations, or unmet needs exist?
                                     5. 5. **Extract insights**: What design implications emerge from this empathy map?
                                        6. 6. **Note gaps**: What do we still need to learn?
                                          
                                           7. Think step by step. Present the empathy map in a clear, visual-friendly format.
                                          
                                           8. ## Further Reading
                                          
                                           9. - Gamestorming — Dave Gray
                                              - - Lean UX — Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden