Difference between revisions of "EDT4OL/Storyboard/Tools"

Revision as of 03:56, 6 April 2022

Key points

In this section we:

1. Introduce a few technologies you can use for generating storyboards.
2. Provide examples of storyboards.
3. Spend a few minutes exploring each option with the view to selecting a tool you would like to use for producing your own storyboard.

Flipcharts, sticky notes and markers

The traditional way of creating storyboards is using flipcharts with sticky notes. To create a storyboard in this way, you will need a flipchart with paper or a whiteboard, sticky notes of different colours and markers. You can take pictures with a digital camera to share your work. This can work well in face-to-face development workshops.

Example storyboard using flipchart paper

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets (for example, LibreOffice Calc or Microsoft Exel) are probably the most versatile application for developing storyboards. Many people know how to use a spreadsheet and recording information digitally makes it easier to share with colleagues. Online options like OnlyOffice or Collabora plugins for Nextcloud or Google Sheets will enable teams to work collaboratively on the same story board.

A storyboard created with using a spreadsheet will be highly structured, as it will be organised in rows and columns.

With spread sheets, you can use different colour backgrounds for the different components of the storyboard, and adjust the colour and size of the labels in the first row and column.

Example of storyboard using Google Sheets. Visit online version here.

Other software options

Lino is an online sticky and photo sharing site. Lino works like a canvas where you can put virtual sticky notes of different colours with text and icons (called stickies). You can also add images, videos and other files (not necessary to create a storyboard but nice to have). Several people can work on the same Lino canvas, which is useful for teams of designers.

Example storyboard using Lino. Visit the online version here.

• Scrumblr, an opensource virtual whiteboard. This tool requires no downloads and no sign-in, making it ideal for quick, instant storyboarding in workshops.

Consider ease of use and whether the tool is fit for the purpose of constructing a storyboard.

Acknowledgement

• Remixed from original materials developed by Gabi Witthaus and Brenda Padilla for the Storyboard for Storyboarding open course under CC-BY-SA license.