A storyboard conveys a complex narrative, in short, using visual art techniques. Ideally, the process is a quick and affordable start to a user experience project, allowing for the development of many ideas, critical comparison, and improved communication. It’s my option that a mixed-method approach is best, and below are some examples. You can do it any way you want, use a template tool, and group consensus.
The style and method of image-making add layers of meaning to the story. In a sense, the material is to emotion if the image is the thought. In this post, you will see three examples of styles and methods. The goal is to tell great stories, so please share ideas in the comments below. What stories do you like? I love all three of these design tools!
Storyboard Style and Mixed Method Production Methods
Use both subjective and objective methods in working out a user experience story flow. The mixed-method is using all kinds of techniques. Below there are three image examples, a video, a website, and a city arts plan storyboard. The video example is from the late director, Stew Birbrower. The website storyboard is from Adobe XD, an interactive prototype application.
Video Commercial Storyboard, An Artist Vision
Detail of commercial hand drawings made by Stew Birbrower for a PSA pitch in 2014.
Adobe XD, A Standardized Digital Interface
Adobe XD video tutorial screenshot – One method is had drawing with captions, similar to a comic strip, to convey camera position, emotion, location, and dialog. The last frame is a digital graphic, and shows recent changes to image quality now available with digital applications.
City Art Planning, Group Thinking and Collaborative Storytelling
An image of a group list building exercise that was part of the community imputes research event in the city’s larger art planning process. People would post ideas on the big board and then, as a group, sort and organize them to create meaning from the collective input.
