3.2.1: Users & Product Visuals

• Time to Complete: 25 minutes
• Prerequisites: Module 3.1 completed (style database built)

Start this module in Cursor: Run /start-3-2-1 to begin the interactive experience.

Overview

Module 3.2.1 applies your image generation skills to real PM deliverables. You’ll create the visual assets needed for product pitches: persona portraits, journey maps, wireframes, device mockups, and hero images.

Key takeaway: These techniques work for any pitch or presentation. Once you can generate these five asset types, you can visually communicate almost any product story.

The Scenario

Throughout Module 3.2, you’re a PM at TaskFlow (the course’s fictional B2B SaaS company). You’re pitching TaskFlow Mobile - a new mobile app for operations managers in manufacturing.

Your pitch deck needs:

1. Persona portrait - “Who are we building for?”
2. Journey map - “What problem are we solving?”
3. Wireframe - “What does the solution look like?”
4. Device mockup - “How does it feel in hand?”
5. Hero image - “What’s the vision?”

Let’s build each one.

Persona Portraits

What They Are

Persona portraits put a face to your target user. They make abstract user segments feel real and help stakeholders empathize with the people you’re building for.

When to Use

• Pitch deck “Who” slides
• User research presentations
• PRD persona sections
• Team alignment documents

How to Generate

Basic prompt:

Create a persona portrait of [name], a [role] at [company type].
[Age range], [key characteristics]. Professional but approachable.
For a pitch deck.

Example - Marcus Chen:

Create a persona portrait of Marcus Chen, an operations manager
at a manufacturing plant. Mid-40s, practical, confident but
approachable expression. Wearing work-appropriate attire -
polo shirt, maybe a safety vest. Natural lighting.
For a pitch deck to leadership.

Style Options

Pro Tips

• Add context clues: Include environment hints (factory floor, office, etc.)
• Match the tone: Executive pitch = more formal; team wiki = more casual
• Be consistent: If you have multiple personas, use the same style for all

Journey Maps

What They Are

Journey maps visualize a user’s experience over time - the steps, touchpoints, pain points, and emotions throughout a process.

When to Use

• Problem definition slides
• User research findings
• Solution framing
• Stakeholder alignment

How to Generate

Basic prompt:

Create a journey map showing [user]'s [process/workflow].
Stages: [list stages]. Show pain points at each stage.
Clean, presentation-ready, 16:9 aspect ratio.

Example - Marcus’s morning:

Create a journey map showing an operations manager's morning workflow.
Stages: Arrive (6am) → Review backlog → Morning standup → Floor walk → Handoff prep.
Show pain points: scattered information, manual tracking, delayed updates.
Clean visual style suitable for a pitch deck. 16:9 aspect ratio.

Style Options

Pro Tips

• Include emotions: Happy/frustrated faces at each stage add impact
• Highlight pain points: Red zones or icons draw attention to problems
• Keep it scannable: 5-7 stages max; detail goes in supporting docs

Wireframe Transformation

What It Is

Transform rough sketches into polished wireframes. This is perfect for taking meeting whiteboard sketches and making them presentation-ready.

When to Use

• After brainstorming sessions
• Early-stage design reviews
• Quick concept validation
• When you don’t have a designer available

How to Generate

Basic prompt:

Transform this hand-drawn sketch into a clean, polished wireframe.
Keep the same layout and elements. Professional quality with
clean lines and consistent spacing.

Provide your rough sketch as a reference image.

Example:

Transform this hand-drawn wireframe into a polished mobile app wireframe.
Preserve the layout: header with greeting, task list, shift overview,
bottom navigation. Clean, professional, grayscale with good typography.
Mobile aspect ratio (9:16).

What to Include in Sketches

Even rough sketches should show:

• Overall layout structure
• Key UI elements (headers, buttons, lists)
• Content hierarchy
• Navigation patterns

Gemini will clean up the visuals while preserving your layout decisions.

Pro Tips

• Keep sketches clear: Gemini needs to understand your intent
• Label elements: Write text in your sketch so Gemini knows what goes where
• Specify fidelity: “Low-fi wireframe” vs “high-fidelity mockup”

Device Mockups

What They Are

Device mockups place your wireframes or screenshots into phone/laptop frames. They make digital products feel tangible.

When to Use

• App store preview images
• Pitch deck product slides
• Marketing materials
• Social media announcements

How to Generate

Basic prompt:

Place this wireframe into a [device] mockup.
Clean background, slight shadow for depth.
Professional, presentation-ready.

Provide your wireframe as a reference image.

Example:

Put this mobile wireframe into an iPhone 15 Pro mockup.
Clean white background with subtle shadow.
Slight 3D angle to show depth. Professional quality.

Device Options

Pro Tips

• Match the context: iPhone for consumer, MacBook for enterprise
• Use current devices: Latest models feel more premium
• Consider angles: Flat for clarity, angled for dynamism
• Add context: Hands holding the device adds authenticity

Lifestyle Shots

What They Are

Lifestyle shots show your product in real-world use. They’re the “hero images” that sell the vision - a person using your product in their natural environment.

When to Use

• Pitch deck covers
• Landing pages
• Marketing hero images
• Social media announcements

How to Generate

Basic prompt:

A [persona] using [product] in [environment].
[Specific details about context]. Natural lighting.
Composition suitable for [use case].

Example:

Marcus, an operations manager in his mid-40s, using TaskFlow Mobile
on the factory floor. He's holding his phone confidently, reviewing
task updates. Manufacturing environment in the background - equipment,
workers, industrial setting. Natural lighting from warehouse windows.
Composition works as a pitch deck hero image.

Composition Tips

Pro Tips

• Use persona consistency: Generate the same “Marcus” across all images
• Match the environment: Office for B2B SaaS, home for consumer apps
• Leave text space: If it’s a hero image, leave room for headlines
• Generate variants: Try different compositions and pick the best

Complete Pitch Deck Example

Here’s how all five assets work together for the TaskFlow Mobile pitch:

Slide 1: The Hero

Asset: Lifestyle shot of Marcus using TaskFlow Mobile on the factory floor Story: “This is the future we’re building”

Slide 2: The User

Asset: Persona portrait of Marcus Chen Story: “Meet Marcus - our target user”

Slide 3: The Problem

Asset: Journey map of Marcus’s chaotic morning Story: “His current workflow is broken”

Slide 4: The Solution

Asset: Polished wireframe of TaskFlow Mobile Story: “Here’s what we’re building”

Slide 5: The Vision

Asset: Device mockup (iPhone with wireframe) Story: “Task management in your pocket”

Total time: 15-20 minutes for all five assets.

Using Your Style Library

Remember the style library from Module 3.1.4? It shines here.

For consistency:

Generate Marcus persona portrait using style #12
Generate journey map using style #15

For exploring options:

Show me all persona styles in my library
Generate Marcus using style #12, #15, and #18 as variants

The more styles you build, the faster this becomes.

Best Practices

Do:

• Match styles across a deck - consistency looks professional
• Use TaskFlow context - or your real company context
• Generate at 1K first - iterate, then go to 2K for finals
• Save good styles - add them to your library
• Generate variants - especially for hero images

Don’t:

• Don’t mix wildly different styles - it looks unprofessional
• Don’t skip iteration - first drafts are rarely final
• Don’t over-detail wireframes - they should feel like wireframes
• Don’t forget context - tell the AI what it’s for

Troubleshooting

Persona doesn’t match description

• Be more specific about age, expression, attire
• Provide reference images of the “type” you want
• Try: “NOT a stock photo feeling, more natural and authentic”

Journey map is too complex

• Reduce to 5-6 stages maximum
• Request “simplified, high-level view”
• Save detailed journeys for separate deep-dive slides

Wireframe looks too polished

• Explicitly request “low-fidelity wireframe”
• Ask for “grayscale only, no polish”
• Specify “sketch-like, not final design”

Device mockup looks fake

• Request “photorealistic device frame”
• Add context: “slight shadow and reflection”
• Try different angles

What’s Next?

You’ve mastered user and product visuals. Next up: strategy and architecture diagrams for stakeholder meetings.

Module 3.2.2 covers system architecture diagrams, prioritization matrices, and product roadmaps - the visuals for CTO, CEO, and board meetings.

Interactive track: Type /start-3-2-2

Resources

• Figma Journey Map Template - Free template to reference
• UXPressia Templates - Journey map and persona templates
• Journey Map Examples - Inspiration for different styles
• Smashing Magazine: Journey Map Templates - Curated collection

About This Course

Created by Carl Vellotti. Check out The Full Stack PM for more PM builder content.

Source Repository: github.com/carlvellotti/claude-code-pm-course