How do your stories affect your design?

Stories humanize a concept. It puts the person (target audience) at the center and draws from their lived experience or desired change. Stories tap into deep desires and pains so that a key idea resonates on an emotional level.

Stories create a unifying language far greater than any mood board could. They bind us altogether into a focus place while still allowing freedom to diverge. Stories help you cross the divide between design and other disciplines. Instead of talking about specific design terms that will be misunderstood and/or weaponised, you can use your stories to have common ground

I like stories. Stories are good. Everyone should tell stories. Because I like them. Everyone likes them. Cause stories. Just do it.

Las historias son importantes y el complemento perfecto de cualquier concepto, diseño o dato. El relato da sentido a todo y ayuda a la bajada para su comprensión. Dímelo y lo recuerdo. Cuéntamelo y lo siento.

Stories or storytelling is a great way to structure your communication to make a greater impact on people. IT will allow your audience to connect and engage with your ideas and relate to them.

We over complicate this process way too much. It’s as simple as there’s the set up and the punchline, the hook in the ending. Just like in comedy. Yes, while I have read the writers journey and the hero with 1000 faces numerous times, and understand the elements of a story not every story needs all these elements to be a good story to start. It needs a hook, something to grab the readers attention. It needs to weave them through a process, that’s clear and concise and uses simple language and then it needs to leave them with the feeling at the end that you want them to feel so that they come back wanting more or you intrigue them with a thought. Once you get that down the read “The Writers Journey”.

Always keep the core principals - or layers as I call them in my storytelling model (the sprout model) - this will guide your story. Be sure to know the impact you want to make, the people that you are telling the story to, set starting context and direction, move into the main event and what in particular it is you are addressing, then bring clarity, conclusion and a lasting impression to the end point ... not forgetting to nurture the story with creativity, energy and perspective.

Designers employ various methods of storytelling to communicate with users effectively. This includes visual storytelling through graphics, illustrations, and user interface elements, as well as narrative storytelling through user journey maps, wireframes, and prototypes.

"Every artist was first an amateur." - Ralph Waldo Emerson There are various methods of storytelling in design, such as visual storytelling, interactive experiences, and narrative-driven content. Visual storytelling uses images and graphics to convey a message. Interactive experiences engage users, making them part of the story. Narrative-driven content, like videos or articles, provides a more detailed story. Choose the method that best suits your design and audience. By using different storytelling techniques, you can create diverse and dynamic designs that captivate and inspire.

Just do it.

Storytelling is the most impactful form of communication. It allows you to structure your communication in such a way which connects and engages the audience. In doing this, not only will you be able to represent your design ideas more effectively, but you will have b stronger chance to gain the feature prioritisation and in turn investment to develop the idea.

Incorporating storytelling into design yields numerous benefits, including increased user engagement, emotional connection, better user understanding, clearer communication with stakeholders, and differentiation in a competitive market.

1. Engaging User Experience. A well-told story can shape the user journey, making interactions more engaging and intuitive. Think about a mobile app designed to help users with fitness goals. The narrative of a user's transformation journey can influence the app’s flow, motivating features, and visual elements, making the experience more immersive and motivating. 2. Evoking Emotions. Stories are powerful tools for evoking emotions, and design can amplify these feelings. Consider an advertisement campaign. The story of a customer’s personal experience with a product can dictate the ad's tone, visuals, and typography, creating an emotional connection that resonates with the audience.

With a combination of your design skills combined with storytelling, your designs can form a relatability. Your designs will become unique and will create an instant brand recall when the audience sees them.

We are all Storytellers and we all have a story to tell. We are NOT all DIGITAL Storytellers or Media Producers who have been trained to take a story from a persons mind to our collective feeds. That being said - it's 2023. And it's a social survival skill. I suggest tapping in. So here's some questions to ask yourself along the way to keep track of where you're at and if you're doing things in the right order to ensure your story delivered to your audience. 1. Purpose? 2. Pre Production? 3. Production? 4. Post Production? 5. Posting? 6. Promotion? 7. People? Repeat the process above and align it with solid storytelling. Your audience will tell you through your analytics what the right stories are.

"Every great story seems to begin with a snake." - Nicolas Cage Storytelling in design comes with challenges, such as finding the right balance between narrative and functionality. It can be difficult to create a story that aligns with your design goals while also engaging your audience. Limited resources and time constraints can also pose challenges. Additionally, ensuring that the story is culturally sensitive and inclusive is crucial. Overcoming these challenges requires creativity, careful planning, and a deep understanding of your audience and objectives.

Fewer elements.. thoughtful meanings! Don’t use too much elements in your design, let your design be on point, if you already wrote the story in the caption, then the design doesn’t have to say a lot. If not then use your elements wisely to build the narrative, and ask people for their feedback without explaining any, let them explain to you what they got from it, that’s when you’ll know if you’re moving in the right direction.

Just remember that all communication is an opportunity for storytelling. The moment you view it through that lens you can really open yourself up to enhancing the impacts you can have every day through your life. Storytelling is not just for that big moment.... it is for the every moment. Stories. Change. Lives.