| Contents:
Where
do we start?
Creating
an outline
Creating
a detailed storyboard outline
Learning through
experience
A
word on project organization
Things to do
Objectives:
You will understand
the concepts that will give you the ability to:
-
create a simple but
organized program outline
-
create a series of storyboard
cards
-
begin to apply your
visualized and written concepts to creating a simple multimedia program
-
apply experiential learning
to resolve design challenges
-
a word on project organization
Where
do we start?
There are many detailed books on the subject
of creating multimedia, but for your first project, we will keep the process
as simple as possible. For your second project, we will take a more in-depth
look at planning, costing, designing and producing multimedia.
We will assume that you already know
the subject, what the program will be used for and who will be using it.
 |
As you think about building your program
you will probably entertain many ideas on its structure and content.
Images and sounds may flash through your mind, or you may find yourself
flipping through magazines for ideas. This is the beginning of the
creative process, and the approach each person takes can be quite different.
Personally, I get creative flashes during my waking hours which have lead
to quite innovative productions. Be sure to keep the purpose and message
of your program in mind as you go through this initial process. |
Creating
an outline
Outlining the structure and content of
a program is absolutely essential before we begin work on any media project.
Write down all of your ideas. Eventually, you should start to build
up a flow chart or diagram showing how the information will be organized
and presented. Sometimes these diagrams are referred to as navigation
maps.
You will still have plenty of room to be
creative after you do this. In fact, the best multimedia projects
are the ones that are tweaked and changed throughout the design and production
process. However, in larger projects too much tweeking can lead to costly
delays.
This is similar to the outline I used to produce
a multimedia program in 1996 which gave an overview of the Communication
Technology Program in Dubai. By studying it, you can see what information
will be presented and how it will be organized. As you examine it, think
of how you can apply
cards and stacks to this type of structure.
The user can get an overview of each area,
and has the option of exploring the selected area further or returning
to the main menu to choose again.
Obviously you would not present this "rough
looking" diagram to an employer or prospective client, but for your first
project, it is all that is required.
Creating
a detailed storyboard outline
Now that you have a rough outline, you
can become more specific with each screen design by using storyboard cards.
The storyboard cards you will use are very similar to the ones you have
already been exposed to in graphic design and television production.
They contain a basic visual representation of what the screen will look
like as well as indicate any audio or technical requirements.
Multimedia storyboards should contain comprehensive information on links
to other cards or stacks, effects, animation's or any other action.
The storyboard card can start out very
basic like this one illustrating the main menu screen in the above outline.
Storyboard cards can be easily re-ordered
or shuffled around until you are satisfied with the order. You may
decide to add information to your cards at any time during this planning
stage. For example, you may not be sure exactly what information
the card will contain or what it's actions will be, but you do know or
at least have an idea that it is needed.
Here is a more complete storyboard card
on the title page or card, showing more detail. Note that the information
can still be changed at this time, and that some design elements have not
been firmly established.
After you have established the structure and
content of your program, you can start designing and assembling the production
elements. Once again, there is still plenty of room to be flexible
and change things. In fact, you will discover that new ideas will
come to you throughout the entire production process, and that other ideas
did not work out well.
Click
here to download blank storyboard cards for your project.
|
 |
Above
is the finished card or screen. To view and navigate through part of the
finished program, click on the multimedia icon. You will need to have the
Hyperstudio browser plugin installed on your computer as well as Quicktime.
If you do not, you can get them by clicking here.
*Note that the card size
has been reduced and the video files and other stacks have been removed
to limit size. |
Multimedia provides much opportunity for users
to easily navigate from place to place. You want to encourage free
choice and movement, but you also have to keep things logical. An
easy way to move back or return to the home card or main menu from almost
any location is highly recommended.
Learning
through experience
| As you begin to produce your first program,
you will probably change some of your design strategies because of various
challenges and limitations. Through some of these minor difficulties
you may discover new and better ways to do things. Some of your ideas
might not be possible to produce at all, and you will have to seek creative
alternatives. |
 |
Listed below
are a few examples of the types of experiences you should be prepared for:
-
The buttons I used do
not blend in with the theme of the program. I'll have to change all of
them.
-
There wasn't enough
RAM in the computer to run an entire video segment, so I'll have to use
audio and still images instead.
-
I found so many new
photos on soccer teams, I'll have to create another stack just for these
images.
-
The audio file I wanted
to use is just too long, so I'll use scrolling text instead.
-
Wow! This animation
really looks cool. I think I'll put it on my main page.
-
This frame effect is
very nice. I'll go back and apply it to every page.
-
I forgot to save my
stack and I've lost over two hours of work.
-
I really don't understand
how to make the program do what I want it to. I'd better ask someone for
help.
There will be frustrations, but remember...
it's all part of the learning experience, and it makes us better at what
we do. Good luck with your storyboards!
A
word on project organization
 |
There is nothing more frustrating than
having files spewed all over the place! Taking a few minutes to create
special folders will help keep your project work organized properly.
Before you begin any multimedia project,
setup a special project folder containing sub-folders for all of the elements
that you will be working with.
Remember to save constantly and backup
periodically! |
Things
to do
-
begin the assignment
on creating a navigation map and storyboard.
-
click on the link
icon to view an example of a completed stack (you may have to download
the plugin).
-
set-up your own special
folder(s) to hold your project work.
|
