The storyboard is a graphical technique that helps in
understanding user tasks across a specific process of execution.
It include picture or drawing that focuses on the user
experience. Storyboard can be used to describe the current user
experience as well as the desired one.
- The storyboard is composed of photographic boxes
accompanied of the title and eventual explanation text.
- Best storyboard would be self explanatory and would not require
- The text could refer external elements that cannot be
explain on the visual. Thus you limit visual
representation to the most important touch point.
- Does not hesitate to adopt singular graphic style.
Regardless the technique you chose; hand drawing,
photography, or digital images.
- Adopt systematic color coding for the personages,
product or environment. That would greatly contribute
to user’s understanding.
- A storyboard may content between 6 to 10
- Start by identifying the main tasks and put them in
sequence. To do so, you may start by representing a
maximum of task each on individual sticky note.
Afterwards start hierarchizing, eliminating and
combining task to limit yourself to the most important
- Draw quick thumbnail scenario, question yourself and
take feedback from others. Reiterate until you are
satisfied with your design.
- If you chose working with photography, request friends
to play the role of your personage. Make their acting
- You do not need much material for this exercise. A few
pen to draw scenario.
- A digital camera to take picture.
- A software like Illustrator or Photoshop to overdraw
pictures if needed. Alternatively Paint can do the job.
- Always think key user touch points.
- Draw your scenario from the end user perspective.
- Be consistent across the scenario using the same actors
for each personage, maintain a graphic language.
- New task flow can be source of resistance as it may
stakeholders’ privileges in the particular
ecosystem. For this reason, it is important to collect
regular feedback while developing new task flow.
- Storyboard is good to use create understanding
between stakeholders. You may take the stakeholders
representatives walk through your storyboard. Collect
their feedback and stimulate debate.
- You may find storyboard example on the internet. Type
keywords in your domain to understand best practices
in terms of graphic design trends.
- Goanimate, Crazytalk, Iclone and Powtoon allow you to
create graphic storyboard based on template images
and persona. It is good to start with.
Some of these platforms allow you to make virtual
personage, speak and interact with each others.