Soy Aunque No Naci:
This project challenged us to explore the potential of storytelling in communication design. Based on our research, we developed one story, then were expected to experiment and investigate how the unique affordances of different media affect its form and message.
Project ········ Cross Media Narrative
Medium ········· Print/Screen Based
Published ······ September - December 2022
Language ······· English/Spanish
The narrative is composed from a compilation of recounted stories alond with photos from my mom’s past and later reflected with my experiences from my visits to Mexico. The goal of this narrative is to explore these created connections/ties with parent’s native countries and how they inform and shape one’s identity through the recounting of stories through these places.
Narrative Rationale:
In approaching the two different possibilities for mediums the goal of the narrative was considered and how it would affect the storytelling. Having this, the first medium of a 8.5in by 11in book was chosen. Print allows the nostalic quality of the narrative to readily sit upon the pages. Print book media is traditional and the sizing isn’t as large to provide a more intimate and personal experience with the viewer. Print allows the viewer to sit with the narrative and pass it down just as a photo album or journal would. The second medium, a website, allows for a more active and interactive telling of the narrative to juxtapose the static feeling of print media. The illustration style in which the photos are created add a more light hearted viewing of the stories. The is also able to see the stories in the order they wish while still understanding the narrative through visual ques. Color palette and typography were kept direct so as help the story shine through. The handwritten quality of the first font was chosen to create this old time effect of past times in which these stories took place later juxtaposed with a modern sans serif to bring it to present day. The titles were treated in sans serif as well to keep the main component standard. In color, the Mexican flag relationship was thought about. It was applied in order to the stories to show that shift from past to present, roots to unrooted but rooted spiritually and the merging that the narrative creates throughout.
Narrative Application:
As mentioned prior, the application took the experience of the viewer into consideration in terms of the consumption of the narrative. The application took these chosen mediums and had the established color and typography inform the design that while being fairly different could still be connected through the visual systems established.
