Adobe Slate for visual storytelling... you must try this application!
This little application, available for mobile devices and via web, is the kind of application that will propel your presentations to new heights.
My initial stories were quite simple, more like family albums, then I began to organize the content differently; approaching more like a movie director. Storyboarding my outline and objectives.
Slate will shift your visual storytelling skills to be more robust.
Overview:
- Easily add images and video
- Create slideshows and/or grids
- Add text and styling (body, h1, h2, quotes)
- Ability to add external links (webpages, email, etc)
- Limited theme templates
- Share link (social media, mail)
- Embed on webpage
After producing "Historically Speaking" and evaluating other visual stories it see numerous possibilities to use Adobe Slate, professionally and personally. Go beyond the newsletter and blog post. Book trailers, e-newsletters, event pre-launch, new business presentation, etc.
During the planning or storyboarding stage think more like the movie director; background imagery, video or audio clips, still images, photo grids and slideshows, etc. How to pair with text to emphasize the core message?
https://slate.adobe.com/cp/ivSk7/
Don't worry this application is available for mobile (iOS & Android) and web.
Just did a quick check on the delivery dates for Blurb, Lulu and Shutterfly for photo books and calendars.
Good news: There's still time to publish your photo book or calendar.
Bad news: Drop dead dates are fast approaching!
Blurb Holiday Schedule
December 11, 2014* is Blurb's date for books (less than 30) delivered via USPS in U.S.the target date to order and take advantage of standard shipping in order to have your book order delivered in time. Blurb is offering discounts of bulk orders until December 9, 2014.
Check the Blurb holiday page for all the details.
Lulu Holiday Schedule
December 11, 2014 is the order date for paper back books and December 10, 2014* for hard cover and calendars shipped via mail with estimated delivery before the 25th. (I don't see a discount promotion, check your email, if you're on their list.)
Check the Lulu holiday page for all the details.
Shutterfly Holiday Schedule
For December 24, 2014* Economy delivery of photo books and calendars, you must order by December 17th. Last day to order is December 19th.
Check the Shutterfly holiday page for all the details.
*Options for Priority Mail, Expedited and Express options are available.
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I have a client last year come to me the first week of December with her sketches and copy with the goal of turning it into a holiday gift for your family. We made it!
I can help you make your book a reality. Drop me an email or give me call to discuss your project.
This year's Chicago Ideas Week was filled with superb speakers, workshop and IDEAS. Unfortunately, my budget would only allow a small sampling of the seven day schedule. Choosing wisely.
A must see, for me, was Bruce Weindruch's presentation/workshop "Start with the Future and Work Back." I had the pleasure of participating in the workshop earlier this year and enjoyed it so much that I had to attend, again. Mr Weindruch is the CEO and Founder of The History Factory, a different kind of creative company that leverages an organization's history to tell a new story.
Working with historical content is nothing new for me; the joy and tedium of shifting through archives–cataloging, tagging and sorting to find the most relevant material for the project connects me with the past. Everything from film, newspaper/magazine clippings, photographs and even audio can contain some very surprising details about people, places and organizations.
Begin with a few simple questions:
- What's important NOW?
- What do you want to HAPPEN?
- What INVENTORY do we need to get from the archives?
Here are a few takeaways from the "Start with the Future and Work Back" workshop.
- Look inside the organization to support today's message.
European luxury fashion companies due this elegantly to highlight heritage, craftsmanship and creativity.
- Pull the right story for the right moment.
One example that comes to mind is from one of my architecture tours when we site the energy efficiency of 110 year old building connecting it with a contemporary issue.
- Tag (meta tag) the historical material.
Select keywords that connect with today's message. This is truly an art form and should be well thought and systematized.
- Look for significant threads or commonalities in the inventory.
Years ago, I was researching and designing a 75th anniversary event magazine for a private golf club. The archives were NOT organized. It's almost like putting a puzzle together.
- Ask "what's important?".
The historical matter must be credible.
- Find an iconic image and shape your story around it.
As a designer this is one of favorite aspects of any project; if you're lucky enough to find it.
- Create compelling stories using the "threads" customized for your audiences.
Working with the writer to create the language that will bring it all together; adding the emotion, passion and persuasion to the story (stories)
- Measure the impact of the story. Marketers will do what they do best to track and measure the effectiveness of the advertising and/or PR campaign. See what's working.
Case studies referenced by The History Factory to illustrate these concepts; these included Brooks Brothers, Inland Steel Building and Boeing. Check out the company's video library for more nuggets about storytelling.
These tips and strategies have proven very useful, recently, on some personal projects and the research for some architecture tours. Simply stated...how can we make history fun and relevant for today's audience?
An example is the History Channel's 10 Things You Don't Know About show, the host uses a contemporary approach to uncover ten little known facts about a topic–stuff we may have slept through during high school history class.
Remember, everyone has a story, we need to discover it.
PS: There were three Chicago Architecture Foundation docents in the audience, including myself. Watch out... our storytelling skills will only get better!
Remember the days of toting your portfolio around to various offices? Designers typically had the large black "sail" which was cumbersome and awkward. So glad we don't have to do that anymore.
A recent appointment with a prospect was an opportunity for potential business but it was also a chance to showcase my portfolio on the iPad. The results were surprising, yet not unexpected.
Using the iPad versus a laptop or jump/flash drive turned the meeting into an interactive experience. Launching the curated and self-published ebook from the library, popping up in vivid color... right there in the palm of my hands. Letting the client take full control of the device and advancing the pages at their own speed. I incorporated a table of contents so I could quickly go to a specific section.
While my portfolio/ebook was stored on the iPad, the conversation led to topics outside the curated content and since I have the wifi version, this did present a challenge.
However, the potential for you as a consultant to "tap" into the capabilities of the tablet (whether it's Apple, Android, Windows or Kindle Fire) are extraordinary. A new realm of interacting with current and potential clients.
Forrester Research has some insight on business usage of tablets (link to article):
- Globally by 2017, tablet usage overall will reach 905 million, that's 1 in 8 people on earth.
- Company issued or bring your own device (BYOD) will become pervasive in the workplace.
- 18% of table purchases will be by enterprises.
You may have noticed tablets being used at AT&T and other retailers, doctor offices, and even restaurants. They're here and companies are beginning to learn how to incorporate into the workplace.
We have an opportunity to examine our marketing materials, presentations, proposals, websites and direct mail campaigns from a new perspective. Ask yourself, "How can I (update) repackage the marketing kit and make it available on my tablet?"
As you ponder the question and answers, push aside the idea of a flat printed page or PDF because publishing for the tablet is far more dynamic than you've imagined.
More resources:
Six iPad Magazines That Are Changing The Publishing BusinessAnnual Report as iPad App
Nordstrom Anniversary Lookbook iPad App
