Why this persona fits the audience
He works in university communications and makes animated event countdowns, lecture titles, and captioned social clips for department accounts. His day-to-day toolkit is PowerPoint, Canva, and shared folder assets, with no formal motion-design background.
- Age: 27
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
- Occupation: Communications officer
- Income: £33k/year
- Education: Bachelor's degree
- Company size: University department (approx. 30 staff)
- Years in role: 3
“It's about making complex ideas feel accessible, giving them a visual hook so people actually pay attention.”
Born and raised in a small town near Edinburgh, Jack developed an early appreciation for clear communication and structured environments. His father, a retired librarian, instilled in him a love for order and information, while his mother, a primary school teacher, fostered a sense of public service. He pursued a Bachelor's degree in Communications at the University of Edinburgh, where he discovered a knack for visual storytelling. During his studies, he took on a part-time role assisting the university's marketing department, which exposed him to the practicalities of creating promotional materials. Upon graduating, he secured his current position as a Communications Officer, focusing on visual content for the Faculty of Arts. His role demands a blend of creativity and pragmatism, often requiring him to produce polished graphics with limited resources and time. He's acutely aware of the university's public service mission and strives to represent its academic endeavours effectively. Jack's approach to his work is methodical; he meticulously organizes his project files and adheres to brand guidelines, but he also enjoys the challenge of finding innovative visual solutions within the constraints of his toolkit, which primarily consists of PowerPoint and Canva. He recently spent a considerable amount of time trying to create a smooth, looping animation for a departmental event series using only PowerPoint's animation pane, a task that highlighted the limitations of his current software for more dynamic motion graphics. He views his income as sufficient for his needs, allowing for modest savings and social activities, but he's mindful of its limitations when considering future financial goals, such as property ownership. He values efficiency and organization, seeing them as key to managing the constant flow of requests and deadlines inherent in university communications. His relationship with time is one of careful management, always trying to allocate it effectively across multiple competing priorities.
Background & daily life
A day in their life
Jack's typical weekday begins around 7:30 AM with a quick breakfast and checking emails on his phone before cycling to the university. His mornings are usually dedicated to core tasks: designing a social media graphic for an upcoming lecture series, creating an animated countdown for a departmental conference, or editing short video clips with captions for Instagram. He’ll often have a quick check-in with his manager or a colleague about ongoing projects. Lunch is usually a packed sandwich eaten at his desk while browsing design blogs. Afternoons might involve responding to urgent requests, updating website banners, or attending a brief departmental meeting. He aims to leave by 5:30 PM, often stopping at the gym or a local shop before heading home to unwind.
Lifestyle
Jack lives in a shared flat in Leith, a vibrant area of Edinburgh, splitting rent with a friend from university. His income supports a comfortable but not extravagant lifestyle, prioritising experiences and saving for a deposit on a small flat. He cycles to work most days, enjoying the brisk Edinburgh air. Evenings are often spent experimenting with design tools, catching up on a podcast, or meeting friends for a pint at a local pub. Weekends involve exploring Edinburgh's historical sites, visiting galleries, or sometimes just relaxing at home with a good book. He's conscious of his spending, preferring to budget for essentials and occasional treats.
Work life
As a Communications Officer for the university's Faculty of Arts, Jack's primary role is to make academic events and research accessible and engaging to a wider audience. This involves creating visually appealing graphics for social media, websites, and internal communications. He's constantly juggling requests from various departments, ensuring deadlines are met while maintaining a consistent brand identity for the university. His toolkit is functional rather than cutting-edge: PowerPoint for basic animations and layouts, Canva for quick social media posts, and a shared drive overflowing with university-approved logos and templates. He often feels the limitations of these tools when trying to achieve more dynamic visual effects.
Relationships
Jack maintains close ties with his family back in Fife, visiting them a couple of times a month. His core group of friends, mostly met at university, are a significant part of his social life, often meeting up for casual drinks or weekend outings. He has a good working relationship with his immediate colleagues, appreciating their collaborative spirit, though he sometimes feels a bit isolated by the technical nature of his specific design tasks.
How they decide
Jack tends to be research-oriented when it comes to tools or significant purchases. He'll explore options, read reviews, and compare features, often seeking advice from online communities or colleagues if the topic is relevant. For smaller, day-to-day decisions, he relies on established routines and what has proven efficient in the past. He's not impulsive but values practicality and demonstrable utility.
How they sound
Speaks with a clear, measured tone, typical of someone accustomed to formal communication. Uses standard British English, with occasional Edinburgh colloquialisms slipping in naturally. Avoids overly technical jargon unless explaining a specific design concept. His cadence is steady, reflecting his organized nature. He tends to be polite and slightly reserved in initial interactions, warming up as he becomes more comfortable.
Personality traits
- Methodical
- Detail-oriented
- Reliable
- Adaptable
- Patient
- Pragmatic
- Organized
- Slightly reserved
Goals
- To streamline the university's visual communication processes.
- To develop a more sophisticated understanding of motion graphics.
- To eventually lead a small communications team.
- To purchase his own property within the next five years.
- To contribute meaningfully to the university's public engagement efforts.
Problems & frictions
- The time-consuming nature of creating custom graphics with limited tools.
- Balancing multiple urgent requests from different academic departments.
- Keeping up with evolving social media visual trends on a tight budget.
- Lack of dedicated animation software or training within his department.
- Ensuring consistency across a wide range of visual assets.
Values
- public service
- organization
- professional tone
- efficiency
- clear communication
Interests
- higher education
- event marketing
- presentation design
- graphic design trends
- local history
Media habits
- Reads university news digests
- Follows design inspiration accounts on Instagram
- Listens to podcasts during commute
- Checks LinkedIn for industry news
- Watches YouTube tutorials for software tips