{"id":84,"date":"2023-05-31T04:06:12","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T17:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/?p=84"},"modified":"2025-12-13T18:20:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T07:20:02","slug":"why-your-project-needs-storyboarding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/2023\/05\/31\/why-your-project-needs-storyboarding\/","title":{"rendered":"Why your project needs storyboarding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There\u2019s that fantastic time in any product or service design project where an idea is just starting to take shape, and spread its wings. Will it be <em>The Next Big Thing<\/em>? Will it be able to stand up to the barrage of oncoming questions, like: will it resonate with your target audience? How will it work? Is it even feasible?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>That\u2019s where storyboards are your friend<\/strong>, and the best way to help your idea spread those wings, and be ready for those questions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"679\" src=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/img-storyboarding-intro-1024x679.jpg\" alt=\"A hand-drawn image showing how ideas can flow between people with storyboards\" class=\"wp-image-85\" style=\"width:512px;height:339px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/img-storyboarding-intro-1024x679.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/img-storyboarding-intro-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/img-storyboarding-intro-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/img-storyboarding-intro.jpg 1295w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Storyboards are the ideal method to help you and your team hash out problems and directions early on<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Storyboards are sets of frames with pictures and narrative text, organised as a sequence to be read as a story. They\u2019re very useful for when an idea is too hard or conceptual or expensive to prototype. You can sketch out your idea using a sequence of simple pictures arranged like a comic, to show the <em>context <\/em>of that idea: <em>who<\/em> is experiencing the idea, <em>what<\/em> they do, <em>how<\/em> they do it, <em>when<\/em> they do it, and <em>why<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why storyboarding is so effective for any team project<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As far as design asset bang for buck goes, it\u2019s hard to go past storyboards. They not only capture and communicate an experience so fast and so well, they also double as a prototyping tool; <em>the act of drawing a storyboard<\/em> helps you to understand and test your own ideas.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Storyboards came from the world of film. They bring the various elements of the craft of cinema \u2013 such as script, characters, location, and of course the plot \u2013 to life in a unified way that others can start to see how it all comes together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-npws-storyboard-bencrothers.jpg\" alt=\"An example of a storyboard I drew to bring an early mobile experience to life\" class=\"wp-image-281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-npws-storyboard-bencrothers.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-npws-storyboard-bencrothers-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-npws-storyboard-bencrothers-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-npws-storyboard-bencrothers-702x526.jpg 702w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A storyboard I drew to bring an early mobile experience to life<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Storyboards are an important way to visualise stories involved in user experience design:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Illustrating an existing experience<\/strong>, often showing a particular problem in the experience, and its negative impact on people<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Illustrating an envisioned experience<\/strong>, showing a solution and the benefits of that solution<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Showing state differences<\/strong> in products and services where interface designs wouldn\u2019t be enough, such as showing differences based on different times of the day, different locations, or different personas\/archetypes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>They are also very handy when it comes to envisioning, prototyping and planning other kinds of experiences, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Change management envisioning and roll-outs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E-learning content and training videos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explainer videos and promotion videos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Games<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Video advertisements&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What storyboards are not<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how storyboards differ from other assets created in the world of product and service design:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Journey maps<\/strong> &#8211; journey maps offer a <em>schematic<\/em> view of an experience from a single user\u2019s perspective, showing how a string of actions leads (or in some cases doesn\u2019t lead) to a goal, and often how that journey <em>feels<\/em>. Journey maps are useful for visually summarising many different aspects of an experience \u2013 such as pain points, opportunities, sentiment \u2013 as a single <em>map<\/em>, in a way that just wouldn\u2019t fit on a storyboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Service blueprints<\/strong> &#8211; service blueprints are similar to journey maps, but usually replace indications of how the journey <em>feels<\/em>, with much more information about what the journey includes from a <em>system<\/em> perspective, covering <em>all<\/em> user types. This means that what happens behind the scenes (or off-stage) is visually captured as well as what happens from the user\u2019s perspective (on-stage). This can include internal teams, processes and systems, such as customer support resources and approval processes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>User flows<\/strong> &#8211; user flows are a schematic view of the experience from a <em>task<\/em> perspective. They typically show a flowchart of the sequence of actions and decision points linked together, usually outside of time. They capture <em>what<\/em> happens, rather than <em>how<\/em>, or how long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Screenflows<\/strong> &#8211; screenflows and user flows are often interchangeable, but screenflows show the experience from the <em>interface<\/em> perspective. They tend to be sets of simplified screen designs or wireframes. They are useful for understanding <em>how<\/em> a given task\/s is\/are achieved across various screens and interface elements on a website, application, or other product, rather than <em>who<\/em> is doing the actions, or <em>when<\/em>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What makes a great storyboard for your project?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Storyboards are best used as instruments of <em>process<\/em>, not <em>product<\/em>. In other words, they are best used to <em>stimulate discussion<\/em>, not seek approval. They are best used as prototypes, sketches only, made to inform others and get feedback about how an idea <em>works<\/em>, rather than being a fully-formed aesthetically-pleasing product about what the idea <em>is<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-pixar-inside-out-meeting-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of a team at Pixar discussing a movie, surrounded by storyboards\" class=\"wp-image-86\" srcset=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-pixar-inside-out-meeting-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-pixar-inside-out-meeting-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-pixar-inside-out-meeting-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-pixar-inside-out-meeting-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-pixar-inside-out-meeting-337x226.jpg 337w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pic-pixar-inside-out-meeting.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Director Pete Docter during a meeting for Pixar&#8217;s Inside Out. Note the various storyboards around.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Storyboards should focus on being:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Quick<\/strong> &#8211; they take hours \u2013 rather than days or weeks \u2013 to create<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"706\" src=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-bbc-1-1024x706.jpg\" alt=\"An example of a simple but effective storyboard\" class=\"wp-image-87\" srcset=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-bbc-1-1024x706.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-bbc-1-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-bbc-1-768x529.jpg 768w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-bbc-1.jpg 1416w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>This is a simple storyboard from a team at BBC. Note how rough and ready it is, and yet conveys the story it needs to.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Cheap<\/strong> &#8211; they are created using simple tools like pencil, sticky notes and paper, possibly some pre-made templated elements (rather than needing sophisticated software and training), before needing to spend any great amounts of money.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"418\" src=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-BryantHodson-1024x418.jpg\" alt=\"Another example of a simple storyboard\" class=\"wp-image-88\" srcset=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-BryantHodson-1024x418.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-BryantHodson-300x122.jpg 300w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-BryantHodson-768x314.jpg 768w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-BryantHodson-1536x627.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-BryantHodson-2048x836.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A simple storyboard by <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@bryanthodson?source=post_page-----fc051e2bc04d--------------------------------\">Bryant Hodson<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Evocative<\/strong> &#8211; they should capture your audience\u2019s attention, and help anchor discussion to <em>how to improve the experience<\/em>, not how to make the solution. In a now-famous move, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/3002813\/how-snow-white-helped-airbnbs-mobile-mission\">Airbnb hired Pixar animator Nick Sung<\/a> to bring specific moments in their customers\u2019 experiences to life (code-named \u201cSnow White\u201d), and posted them around the organisation\u2019s office walls.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"376\" src=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-example-airbnb-1024x376.jpg\" alt=\"An example of a storyboard used in UX strategy at Airbnb\" class=\"wp-image-89\" srcset=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-example-airbnb-1024x376.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-example-airbnb-300x110.jpg 300w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-example-airbnb-768x282.jpg 768w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-example-airbnb-1536x564.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-example-airbnb.jpg 1760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A single frame and a look at some of the other storyboard frames from Nick Sung, for Airbnb<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Unifying<\/strong> &#8211; storyboards are great at giving everyone \u2013 from designers to developers to customer support agents to managers \u2013 a common language to use, to discuss and improve customer experiences or employee experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-yourein-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"An example storyboard with added UX details under each panel\" class=\"wp-image-91\" srcset=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-yourein-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-yourein-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-yourein-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/storyboard-sample-yourein-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A storyboard for a fictitious startup called You\u2019re In, by Jordan Husney. Notice how you can arrange other information (in this case potential projects to prioritise) under each frame.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Minimal<\/strong> &#8211; they should focus on the essence of what needs to be communicated and validated. This includes the level of detail and draughtsmanship finesse; when it comes to communicating <em>the idea of a house<\/em>, a simple blocky rendering of a house is the same as a professionally-drawn house, or a computer-generated image of a house. In cases like these, simple drawings are usually better, because extraneous distracting details can be omitted, e.g. age and style, size, materials.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As author Scott McCloud says, they focus on <em>amplification through simplification<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What you need to create a storyboard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ll get into how to draw storyboards in another post, but for now, it\u2019s good to know that you need the following elements to set yourself \u2013 and the idea that you want to communicate \u2013 up for success:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A user type<\/strong> &#8211; <em>Who <\/em>is your main character?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A goal<\/strong> &#8211; <em>Why<\/em> is the character doing what they\u2019re doing?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>An audience<\/strong> &#8211; Who will read this storyboard, and <em>what do you want from them<\/em>? Are you wanting to persuade them about fixing a particular problem? Or for them to provide feedback on a particular solution? Or to empathise with customers in a particular way?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A story<\/strong> &#8211; All of these elements come together and are brought to life through the story itself, or a sequence of events that is usually meant to engage your audience\u2019s head (how does it relate to their knowledge and experience), heart (what does it mean to them) and hands (what do you want them to do).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That last element \u2013 crafting your story \u2013 is the subject of <a href=\"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/2023\/05\/31\/how-to-construct-a-great-story\/\">another post<\/a> too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s that fantastic time in any product or service design project where an idea is just starting to take shape, and spread its wings. Will it be The Next Big Thing? Will it be able to stand up to the barrage of oncoming questions, like: will it resonate with your target audience? How will it [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":331,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,12],"tags":[49,3,50,15,16,48,47,19],"class_list":{"0":"post-84","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-for-designers-researchers","8":"category-visual-strategy-facilitation","9":"tag-change-management","10":"tag-design","11":"tag-design-critique","12":"tag-product-design","13":"tag-service-design","14":"tag-storyboarding","15":"tag-storyboards","16":"tag-ux","17":"entry"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/blog-masthead-storyboarding1.jpg",880,358,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/blog-masthead-storyboarding1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/blog-masthead-storyboarding1-300x122.jpg",300,122,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/blog-masthead-storyboarding1-768x312.jpg",768,312,true],"large":["https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/blog-masthead-storyboarding1.jpg",880,358,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/blog-masthead-storyboarding1.jpg",880,358,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/blog-masthead-storyboarding1.jpg",880,358,false],"sidebar-featured":["https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/blog-masthead-storyboarding1-75x75.jpg",75,75,true],"genesis-singular-images":["https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/blog-masthead-storyboarding1-702x358.jpg",702,358,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Ben Crothers","author_link":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/author\/ben-crothers\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"There\u2019s that fantastic time in any product or service design project where an idea is just starting to take shape, and spread its wings. Will it be The Next Big Thing? Will it be able to stand up to the barrage of oncoming questions, like: will it resonate with your target audience? How will it&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":282,"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84\/revisions\/282"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prestosketching.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}