Designers and developers have been talking about mobile first for a few years now, but it’s time to pivot. What are we trying to say, and what do we want our audience to take away? That’s the formula that should guide our choice of storytelling platform, whether mobile, desktop, VR or social media. In this workshop, we’ll look at specific examples of how the content-first approach has worked effectively, then take some story ideas and prototype content-first strategies.

1. #ONA16content
It’s not Mobile First.
Think Content First.
Sarah Squire, Dow Jones Media Group, @sarahjsquire
Allison Morrow, The Wall Street Journal, @alliwsj
September 15, 2016 #ONA16content

2. What we’re doing
● Welcome 1 minute
● Not Mobile First 5 min
● Content First 3 min
● Prove It 10 min
● Do It 20 min
● Share 10 min
● Q&A 10 min
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3. #ONA16content
Warning
Uncredited images taken from
Google image search ahead

4. #ONA16content
Welcome
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Sarah Squire
@sarahjsquire
Allison Morrow
@alliwsj

5. 5

6. #ONA16content
Not Mobile First
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7. Problems
● Size of data
● Hovering
● Mobile browser
● Network speed
● Scroll position
● Third-party iframes
● Font legibility
● Small screens
● Tooltips
● UI elements
● Workflow
● Viewport height
● Mobile-specific sites
● Sticky elements
● Share buttons
● Audio and video
● Screen orientation
● Data limits
● Accessibility
● Location
● Acceleration
● Notification
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8. #ONA16content
Mobile First

9. #ONA16content

10. #ONA16content

11. #ONA16content
Why is mobile first?

12. #ONA16content

13. #ONA16content

14. #ONA16content
Content First
Why we’re here
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15. #ONA16content
Find information.
Tell people.

16. #ONA16content
Find information.
Tell people.
Content
Users

17. #ONA16content
What are you trying to say?
Tell people.
Content
Users

18. #ONA16content
What are you trying to say?
Who are you trying to tell?
Content
Users

19. #ONA16content
What are you trying to say?
Who are you trying to tell?

20. #ONA16content
Prove It

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Google has officially dethroned
Apple as the world’s most valuable
company
The two companies have been nearing this
moment for months, after long stretch where
Apple’s value towered over that of Google.
Melvin Backman, Quartz

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30. #ONA16content
Do It

31. #ONA16content
Questions?

32. Activity assumptions
● Story is worth spending time on
● Deadline a few weeks. Don’t worry about it,
but don’t go overboard
● Same for resources. Don’t worry about it, but
don’t go crazy
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33. #ONA16content
What are you trying to say?
Who are you trying to tell?

34. #ONA16content
Do It

35. #ONA16content
Do It

36. #ONA16content
Share

37. What we did
● Welcomed you
● Not Mobile First
● Content First
● Proved It (hopefully)
● Did It
● Shared
● Q&A 10 min (or less)
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38. #ONA16content
Questions?

39. #ONA16content
Bye!
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Sarah Squire
@sarahjsquire
Allison Morrow
@alliwsj