Storyboard
UX Design
What is a Storyboard
A Storyboard is a visual narrative tool that sequences illustrations or images to show how a user might interact with a product, service, or experience. It tells a story through a series of scenes, helping teams understand and communicate user journeys.
Components of Storyboards
Essential elements include:
- Scenarios: Specific situations or use cases
- Characters: Representative users in context
- Actions: Key steps or interactions
- Emotions: User feelings and reactions
When to use Storyboards
Create storyboards when visualizing user scenarios, communicating design concepts, exploring user journeys, or presenting ideas to stakeholders. They're particularly valuable for understanding context and emotional aspects of user experiences.
Benefits of Storyboards
Storyboards help teams visualize user context, build empathy, identify potential issues, and communicate concepts effectively. They transform abstract ideas into tangible narratives that stakeholders can easily understand and discuss.
No, simple sketches or stick figures can be effective as long as they clearly communicate the scenario and user journey. The focus should be on the story, not artistic quality.
Typically 6-12 frames work well for most scenarios. Use enough frames to show the key moments and context, but keep it concise enough to maintain focus and clarity.
Storyboards are most valuable early in the design process to align team understanding of user needs and contexts, but they can also be useful when communicating design solutions to stakeholders.
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