Embodiments of the innovation relate to a persona development device comprising a controller having a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive a research request from a user interaction device, the research request including an attribute related to a persona. The controller is configured to, in response to identifying a correspondence between the attribute of the research request and a persona of a persona database, forward a request response including the persona to the user interaction device. The controller is configured to, in response to identifying a lack of correspondence between the attribute of the research request and a persona of a persona database, retrieve user data from a user data source, create a persona prototype based upon the user data and corresponding to the attribute of the research request, and forward a request response including the persona prototype to the user interaction device.