What Is a Problem Statement?

A problem statement is a summary of a user’s pain point or problem to be solved when designing a product. In user experience (UX), the problem statement provides guidance for the project’s user experience and user interaction. It should be concise and actionable.

A problem statement usually offers information about the specific business problem, giving context and helping clarify the issue. You can use the 5 Ws to help develop your problem statement:

• Who is affected by the problem?

• What is the problem?

• Where does the problem occur?

• When does it occur?

• Why does it occur? Why is the problem important?

Consider this example of a problem statement in user experience (UX): 

Users of an exercise app are dissatisfied with the music options available, causing low retention rates. The app’s target audience wants a well-curated playlist or the ability to sync their playlist to the class, so they have been seeking other yoga apps that offer this customisation and flexibility. How might we improve the app’s features to appeal to new and existing users?

Learn more about problem statements from the team at Google:

Related terms

• Product designer

• Responsive web design

• UI design

• Usability

• User journey map

• User story

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A problem statement in UX design clearly defines a user's pain point and impact. It should be concise and answer the 5 Ws (who, what, where, when, why) to guide user experience decisions. By understanding user needs, you can create solutions that address their problems.

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