User research plays a pivotal role in UI/UX design as it helps designers gain valuable insights into the needs, preferences, and behaviors of their target audience. By conducting user research, designers can make informed decisions that result in user-centered designs.

To begin the user research process, it is essential to identify the target audience and their characteristics. This includes considering factors such as age, gender, occupation, and interests. By narrowing down the target audience, designers can create more accurate user personas.

User personas are fictional representations of key user groups that help designers understand different user types and their goals. Personas are created based on information gathered through user research, including surveys, interviews, and observation.

For example, let's consider a hypothetical design project for a fitness app. Through user research, we discover that our target audience consists of both fitness enthusiasts and beginners. By creating distinct personas for these two user groups, we can tailor our design decisions to meet the specific needs of each persona.