My Storytelling Experience

Challenge and Selection

Market success sparks a clear engaging story. Storytelling creates authenticity. Authenticity connects to  the behavioral design principle. It is the art of communicating eloquently and creating emotional  connections with people. My dad is a talented artist and struggles to create a market for his paintings. I  was inspired by the storytelling tool. My first question is; How will I use storytelling to successfully  connect my dad’s paintings with potential customers? According to the video reference; ‘Storytelling  says it's not about the list of things we have to do, it's about the connection that we give to people  about a piece of information that we're trying to share.

The first consideration I have is the paintings themselves--if they are abstract or otherwise  interpretative, it would be prudent not to impose too much of a narrative upon them. If they are more  representational, then it also depends upon the potential customers one is trying to seek (for example,  domestic or international) I say this because appealing content will differ between cultural bases.

Another consideration is story content in relation to the artist--whether abstract or representational, a  narrative created by the artist becomes something altogether different and doesn't necessarily  compromise the work in any manner--instead, it can augment the appeal of the work when the  customer is provided with an understanding of the artist's thought processes, daily travails, experiences,  and so forth.

Application

I organized a small exhibition at home and used storytelling as a tool to build empathy and take the  customers through a very real and personal journey of the artist. The painting titled “Paradise” is a vivid  visual about the movement of waves against the rock; an image of struggle, peace and happiness. I  shared the story of the artist’s childhood memory of skipping school and sitting atop a Danish Fort. He  would smell the salty air and watch the movement of the waves feeling the initial volatility and   immense peace and tranquility. The visuals created an element of mystery and intrigue. I played  melodious music in the background. I endeavored to bring alive the feeling of initial struggle and then  peace and happiness to the customers. The customers were encouraged to slow down, linger over the  art and immerse in the stories and experience the artist’s intriguing journey. The storytelling approach  created an absorbing and immersive environment for customers to experience.

Insight and Approach

I thought about a different approach of engaging the customers in the storytelling process. How about  getting customers to see what experiences or memories viewing the paintings triggered? The visitors  experienced nostalgia and a gamut of emotions that really helped them relate to the art.  The customers were motivated to tell their own stories about what the vivid visuals evoked.

The whole exhibition became an interactive story telling of shared experiences. The customers felt that  shared empathy of connection with the paintings. Most of the paintings depicted strong visuals of the  sea. I talked to the visitors about how living near the sea inspired my dad to become an artist. He went  through very real struggles to make his dream a reality. The strong movement of the ocean are a vivid  description of that struggle. His parents refused to pay for his art education. He worked in many  different jobs and completed six years of art school. The customers talked about how the ocean waves  brought memories of their own struggle and how the waves of their lives eventually became tranquility  and happiness. This created a feeling of shared understanding and strong connection with the paintings.  The customers built a real personal connection with the paintings.

My dad is now inspired to make more paintings depicting stories. This course and the storytelling tool  has helped me create a new dimension to his art. A totally immersive experience adding an interactive,  empathetic element for future exhibitions.

This tool really helped me visualize and practically apply the powerful tool of storytelling to create a  whole new perspective.

I’m a learning and development professional and this course has motivated me to add design thinking  innovation as a career goal worth pursuing.


My Storytelling Experience Challenge and Selection Market success sparks a clear engaging story . Storytelling creates authenticity . Authenticity connects to the behavioral design principle . It is the art of communicating eloquently and creating emotional connections with people . My dad is a talented artist and struggles to create a market for his paintings . I was inspired by the storytelling tool . My first question is ; How will I use storytelling to successfully connect my dad ’s paintings with potential customers ? According to the video reference ; ‘ Storytelling says it 's not about the list of things we have to do , it 's about the connection that we give to people about a piece of information that we 're trying to share . The first consideration I have is the paintings themselves -- if they are abstract or otherwise interpretative , it would be prudent not to impose too much of a narrative upon them . If they are more representational , then it also depends upon the potential customers one is trying to seek ( for example , domestic or international ) I say this because appealing content will differ between cultural bases . Another consideration is story content in relation to the artist -- whether abstract or representational , a narrative created by the artist becomes something altogether different and does n't necessarily compromise the work in any manner -- instead , it can augment the appeal of the work when the customer is provided with an understanding of the artist 's thought processes , daily travails , experiences , and so forth . Application I organized a small exhibition at home and used storytelling as a tool to build empathy and take the customers through a very real and personal journey of the artist . The painting titled “ Paradise ” is a vivid visual about the movement of waves against the rock ; an image of struggle , peace and happiness . I shared the story of the artist ’s childhood memory of skipping school and sitting atop a Danish Fort . He would smell the salty air and watch the movement of the waves feeling the initial volatility and immense peace and tranquility . The visuals created an element of mystery and intrigue . I played melodious music in the background . I endeavored to bring alive the feeling of initial struggle and then peace and happiness to the customers . The customers were encouraged to slow down , linger over the art and immerse in the stories and experience the artist ’s intriguing journey . The storytelling approach created an absorbing and immersive environment for customers to experience . Insight and Approach I thought about a different approach of engaging the customers in the storytelling process . How about getting customers to see what experiences or memories viewing the paintings triggered ? The visitors experienced nostalgia and a gamut of emotions that really helped them relate to the art . The customers were motivated to tell their own stories about what the vivid visuals evoked . The whole exhibition became an interactive story telling of shared experiences . The customers felt that shared empathy of connection with the paintings . Most of the paintings depicted strong visuals of the sea . I talked to the visitors about how living near the sea inspired my dad to become an artist . He went through very real struggles to make his dream a reality . The strong movement of the ocean are a vivid description of that struggle . His parents refused to pay for his art education . He worked in many different jobs and completed six years of art school . The customers talked about how the ocean waves brought memories of their own struggle and how the waves of their lives eventually became tranquility and happiness . This created a feeling of shared understanding and strong connection with the paintings . The customers built a real personal connection with the paintings . My dad is now inspired to make more paintings depicting stories . This course and the storytelling tool has helped me create a new dimension to his art . A totally immersive experience adding an interactive , empathetic element for future exhibitions . This tool really helped me visualize and practically apply the powerful tool of storytelling to create a whole new perspective . I ’m a learning and development professional and this course has motivated me to add design thinking innovation as a career goal worth pursuing .