Storyboards

With a background in filmmaking as a screenwriter and director, I’ve discovered that visually representing the story you want to tell is crucial in the creative process. Just as I would storyboard a film, I’ve found that creating a visual user journey for a product experience adds layers of clarity and vision to the design process.  A visualized user journey not only helps me as a designer create a better product, but it also aids stakeholders or others who may not be as familiar with our customers in understanding their pain points and how our product can fit into their everyday lives.

It Starts with an Idea

A user’s journey begins with understanding their pain points and the problem the product aims to solve. I enjoy crafting end-to-end experiences to ensure users have consistent and meaningful interactions throughout. Before generating images, I map out what a typical storyboard looks like for the user.

Character Design

When beginning the character design process, I first define the look, tone, and feel of the storyboard, considering the type of product and the user I’m storyboarding for. This is one of the most enjoyable parts of the process because the possibilities are endless, and the words on post-it notes start to come to life!

Scene/Character Consistency

Character and scene consistency is one of the most challenging aspects of the AI image generation process. While AI tools have advanced significantly, it takes skill to create a consistent character across different settings, ensuring the storyboard feels cohesive. I dedicate about 70% of the design process to this effort, striving to create the most consistent storyboard, scene by scene.

A User’s Journey

In the end, all the hard work pays off! This quick 15 minute storyboarding process can make all the difference when casting a vision for a product. It’s incredibly rewarding to share these images and stories with others. When I walk stakeholders, team members, or clients through the story, their faces light up with that “I get it now!” moment. At the end of the day, AI will never truly replace the creativity behind the work. However, I’ve learned to embrace certain aspects of AI to augment the incredible work I already produce and elevate it to the next level.