Thinking Like a Storyteller

by Cindy Chastain on Dec 06, 2010

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As interaction designers we do well at facilitating the complex dialogue between people and the interactive products they use. But we often neglect to consider the story that evolves through the interactions people have with the things we make. Designing with a narrative in mind can make a difference between a product that merely functions well and a product that engages the minds, emotions and imaginations of users.

Drawing on personal experience, narrative theory and examples ranging from interactive products to film, this presentation is a call to action for designers to equip themselves with a deeper understanding of narrative techniques. We’ll focus on core aspects such as theme, scene-making, and sequencing to illustrate how thinking like a storyteller can make you a better designer. You’ll also learn how this approach can be a powerful basis for holistic design.

Link to video: http://www.ixda.org/resources/cindy-chastain-thinking-storyteller

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Thinking Like a Storyteller — Presentation Transcript

Thinking Like aStoryteller Cindy Chastain @cchastain #ixd10 #story

revised title: What’s the deal withStorytelling?

innovation! design thinking! storytelling!

communication tool user stories personas scenarios framework brand stories storyboards demos product stories

my story

Ahhh..this button, will direct a call to the president of the company. Oh! the call is going through….If the president of the company gets his call, he will be happy. If he is happy, I will be noticed. If I am noticed, perhaps I can get aself-narratives raise… This device is so good for my life!

how can we, as designers, providecues that will deepen that narrative connection?

engagement cognitive emotional

What can we learn from the discipline of storytelling that will help us design for more meaningful and engaging product experiences? the ultimate question

slow disclosure

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surprise

Stories engage us because of the way they’re designed.

If we, as designers, had a betterunderstanding of how stories arecrafted, we would have a betterunderstanding of how to craft deeperkinds of engagement in theinteractive products we create.

Act I: Theory the construction and deconstruction of narrative (!)

The Poetics All stories are, “in their general conception, modes of imitation.” -Aristotle

But what makes them differ… Objects Medium Manner

Two Manners of Storytelling… narrative/telling dramatic/showing diegetic mimetic

Aristotle’s Six Qualitative Elements of Drama Plot (events) Character (agents) Thought (ideas/theme) Diction (language) Song (pattern) Spectacle (the visual)

So, how does this relate to interactive products?

the shape of narrative ﬂow

Canonical Story Format introduction and setting of characters explanation of state of affairs complicating action ensuing events outcome ending

Narrative Flow introduction and setting of characters explanation of state of affairs complicating action ensuing events outcome ending

understandingnarrative craft will help us get there

Act II: Craft Or what we can learn from storytelling about the art of narrative ﬂow.

Aristotle’s Six Qualitative Elements of Drama Plot (events) Character (agents) Thought (ideas/theme) Diction (language) Song (pattern) Spectacle (the visual)

Three Primary Elements of Storytelling Plot (events) Character (agents) Thought (ideas/theme Diction (language) Song (pattern) Spectacle (the visual))

ﬁrst element: plot

To understand aﬁlm’s story is tograsp whathappens andwhere, when andwhy it happens.

four relevant mechanics of dramaticnarration communicate potential express causality reinforce probability facilitate completion

communicate potential

cognitive/emotional

express causality

cognitive

reinforce probability

cognitive/emotional + meaning

facilitate completion

emotional

second element: character

Well designed system-based agents, cancontribute to dramaticengagement, elicitempathy, and inﬂuencethe actions and emotionalresponses of humanagents involved in thesame activity.

Act III: Challenge

If we can move away fromthinking of products interms of interfaces andstart thinking of them asrepresentations orenvironments, in whichagents perform actions wewill get us to a placewhere we can design moreﬂuid and engagingdialogues/experiences.

understand the craft of storytelling

design with a narrative in mind

develop narrative craft for design

yes, we can use it

the end (thanks) @cchastain chastaincm@gmail.com

Thinking Like a Storyteller

by Cindy Chastain on Dec 06, 2010

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Thinking Like a Storyteller — Presentation Transcript