User Task Canvas

A canvas to collect, structure & understand user needs

Collecting and understanding your users’ needs is not always easy, especially if you are unfamiliar with their work environment or daily context. That’s why we created this Workshop named "User Needs Canvas": a simple tool to help designers, product teams, and researchers quickly capture user needs in a structured way.

Why this user needs collection Canvas?

This canvas was first developed during a project with a discretionary investment management company. Our challenge was to understand why their existing tools failed to meet the needs of portfolio managers. Before we could answer the “why,” we needed to uncover the what, who, and how of their daily workflows, the context, work habits, and tasks shaping their experience.

Why the "funny card" format?

To make the process engaging and easy to use, we designed the canvas in a card game format. This playful approach encouraged collaboration, helped attending people share insights openly, and allowed us to map user needs more effectively by structuring the insights on-the-fly.

Whether you’re a UX designer, product manager, or researcher, this canvas helps you:

• Collect user needs in a structured and visual way

• Explore context, habits, and dependencies with your team

• Turn insights into actionable leads for solving the “why”

👉 For step-by-step guidance, you can read this User Task Canvas Workshop experience feedback article explaining how to run the full workshop with these cards.

👉 You can also get the printable format and Figma format.