DESIGNED BY
Trishala Parmar
COMMITEE MEMBERS
Mike Strobert, Adam Smith
SOFTWARE
Adobe Creative Suite
ACADEMIC YEAR
May 2023
PROBLEM
There is a lack of accessibility and exposure to global folklore for a wider audience. Despite the richness and diversity of folktales worldwide, many people may not have access to them due to limited resources, language barriers, or cultural isolation and a lack of exposure. I saw a need to preserve and celebrate cultural heritage through stories and make it fun!
SOLUTION
A motion graphics piece for a digital platform that connects global folktales through common words, allowing users to explore diverse stories from around the world. This can promote intercultural appreciation, as well as provide a source of entertainment and education for those who may not have access to such stories otherwise.
Key Areas
EXPLORABLE COLOURFUL ALPHABET GRID
A visual representation of the idea of a universal language of storytelling that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers, creating a unique and engaging way for users to journey into the world of global folklore.
The random arrangement emphasizes that these stories shouldn't be bound by any specific culture, and that anyone can engage with and explore them.
Choosing a letter at random highlights the element of surprise and discovery, encouraging users to be open to new experiences and perspectives.
ROTATING CUBE TRANSITIONS
The use of rotating cubes for transitions adds a unique and visually appealing element to the overall design. The smooth, seamless transitions between scenes keep the user engaged and interested in the content being presented.
The rotating cube is also a powerful visual symbol of connectivity and the interweaving of stories from different cultures. As the user navigates through the project, the cube serves as a constant reminder of the global tapestry of myths and legends being explored.
The element of surprise that comes with the rotating cube adds to the sense of adventure and discovery that is at the heart of this project.
CONNECTING ENTRIES AND STORIES GLIMPSE
The cubes that do not rotate during the transition from the alphabet grid to the story help establish further connections between the chosen story and the larger tapestry of content that it may relate to.
The story scene contains three main words that provide a brief overview of what the story is about, piquing the reader's curiosity and motivating them to either read the entire story or proceed to another one by choosing a cube with another alphabet.
The rotating cubes on the story page help to guide the user through the project, allowing them to explore different myths from around the world in a engaging and informative way.
GET THE FULL STORY
The transition from cubes to rotating cuboids when the user clicks on the "READ" button is an innovative and aesthetic way of indicating a change in the user experience.
The use of cuboids for scene transitions is particularly noteworthy because it follows the grid established by the rotating cubes, but also changes it dynamically to accommodate the different shape of the button. This attention to detail helps to create a seamless and cohesive user experience that is both intuitive and appealing. The highlighted words in the text represent that it is a common link with some other stories.
Significance of Cube
Visual Representation of Global Tapestry
Just like a tapestry is made up of individual threads woven together to create a larger picture, the rotating cube represents how individual stories from different cultures are woven together to form a larger tapestry of global folklore.
It is a Symbol of Connectivity
Serves as a visual symbol of connectivity, highlighting how different stories and cultures are interconnected and interrelated. This concept of connectivity shows how myths and legends share common themes and motifs.
Element of Surprise and Excitement
The use of rotating cubes adds an element of surprise and unpredictability to the scene transitions, which mirrors the sense of discovery and adventure that comes with exploring different cultures and their stories through alphabets.
Engaging User Experience
The use of rotating cubes adds an interactive and engaging element to the user experience, encouraging users to interact with the content in a fun and dynamic way, something different from usual screen transitions.
According to a UNESCO report, there are over 3,000 different cultural expressions on folklore around the world, including stories, music, dance, and oral traditions.
However, the preservation of these folktalkes is an ongoing challenge.
ENDANGERED ORAL TRADITIONS
According to UNESCO, around 43% of the world's estimated 6,000 languages are endangered. This means that many of the oral traditions and folktales associated with these languages are also at risk of being lost.
DECLINING INTEREST
As modern technologies and media have become more prevalent, interest in traditional folktales has declined in many parts of the world. Younger generations may be less likely to learn about and appreciate these stories, which can result in a lack of interest in preserving them.
LOSS OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
The preservation of folktales is often linked to the preservation of cultural heritage. When folktales are lost or forgotten, so too is a part of a community's cultural heritage. This can result in a loss of identity, history, and knowledge.
LACK OF RESOURCES
Preserving folktales can be a resource-intensive process, requiring time, expertise, and funding. In many cases, organizations and individuals who are working to preserve these stories may not have access to the resources they need to do so effectively.
ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL FACTORS
Natural disasters, war, and other social and environmental factors can also impact the preservation of folktales. Such events can cause people to escape their home country making it difficult to preserve their cultural heritage.
Peek into Stories
The Initial Journey
As I embarked on this project, I initially considered working with family lineage and ancestry as content. However, after conducting extensive research and careful consideration, I ultimately decided to pivot towards folklore and mythical stories.
WHY THE CHANGE?
GREATER UNIVERSAL APPEAL
While family lineage can be interesting to individuals who have a personal connection to them, they may lack universal appeal. Folklore and mythical stories on the other hand have a more global appeal as they can be enjoyed by people from different cultural backgrounds.
BROADER RANGE OF CONTENT
Folklore and mythical stories offer a broader range of content than family lineage and family trees. There are countless folktales and mythical stories from different cultures and time periods, providing a rich tapestry of stories to explore.
RELEVANCE TO MODERN TIMES
While family lineage and family trees may have historical significance, folklore and mythical stories can be more relevant to modern times. These stories often contain timeless themes and lessons that can still be relevant and resonant today.
CREATIVITY & PERSONAL INTEREST
It helped open up a world of greater creative potential. Not only could I experiment with different visual and storytelling techniques, but I was also more drawn to these captivating stories due to my interest in the subject.
PRELIMINARY DESIGN EXPLORATION
Motion Demo - Alphabet grid and initial interaction
Still 1 - Content Depth
Still 3 - Transitioning to an alphabet
Motion Demo - Further connections and content within chosen alphabet
Still 2 - Related connections with active alphabet
Still 4 - Grid design exploration
CHALLENGES
Creating easy to use entry points
Transitioning from alphabets to stories and further
Establishing linking points for connections
EVENTUAL SOLUTION
Grid of squares with alphabets
Squares that change into rotating cubes
Fixing position of rotating cubes on scene transitions
DESIGN ITERATIONS OF FINAL SOLUTION
Motion Demo - Experimenting with geometric patterns
Motion Demo - Card flip for changing alphabets
Colour Expression
Represents nature, growth, and harmony, relating to the natural and cultural roots of mythical stories.
Represents stability, trust, and depth, relating to the richness and complexity of global folklore.
Represents optimism, enlightenment, and happiness, relating to the inspiring and uplifting nature of folktales.
Represents mystery, magic, and spirituality, relating to the mythical and supernatural elements found in many stories.
Represents warmth, energy, and creativity, relating to the imaginative and artistic aspects of storytelling.
Represents romance, playfulness, and creativity, relating to themes and emotional aspects of storytelling.
Imagine RIT Display
It was wondeful being able to show and explain my project to visitors at Imagine RIT. Not only were they delighted to see a different approach to culural stories and their preservation, but also enjoyed the playfulness created by bright colours and bold typography.
In Short
How might we create a collection of folklore in a new, fun and engaging way that also enables the preservation of these stories?
By creating a platform that connects mythical stories from around the globe through the power of common words and gives the viewer a chance to explore storytelling in a way not seen before.
Thanks for stopping by!