This week we examined storytelling techniques and how they can be implemented in interactive sites.
I looked at the site securingspace.com which aims to clean space debris for future generations. The loading page begins with an animation of space debris accumulating around the globe by each year. It’s a clever animation that depicts how much debris there could be in space in the future; telling a story and introducing the site to the user.
The homepage includes subtle but clever interactivity through the use of animation. The space debris elements follow your cursor as you move it across the page. As you scroll down the page, elements such as satellites and a shooting star fly past, simulating a 3D environment. I may incorporate into my own site through the use of parallax animations. It will be difficult to do, however with the help of tutorials it could be something I can emulate and take inspiration from.
We looked at Schindler’s List and its visual storytelling. Although it’s shot in black and white, Spielberg makes the choice to portray a little girl’s coat in red. It carries impact and importance by standing out against the rest of the frame. I could use this in my own site as well. Since my site will be mostly in black and white for its colour scheme, I could use red to highlight certain things such as the flames from the Apollo spacecraft or the red stripes on an American Flag.
We also examined the power of the pause in these interactive sites. Pauses such as padding, spacing and breaks between sections are effective in luring users into the site and holding their interest. It can create suspense and intrigue for the user. These are aspects of a good story and can be used in the development of an interactive narrative. I’m going to have to incorporate techniques such as this into my own design.