Below are five examples of work showcasing collaborative design and visual storytelling.
Explore intricate mind maps, dynamic note-taking, and illustrative user and story flows. These projects organically unfolded into interconnected narratives, revealing the complex relationships of data, people, and environments.
By embracing diverse perspectives, skill sets, and a shared passion for learning, discussion, iteration, and co-creation, my partners and I have crafted one-of-a-kind projects that epitomize the power of collaborative design.
Working with cohorts Jessye Holmgren-Sidell and Krithika Sathyamurth, we visualized and outlined our research concerning Machine Learning. From its history, inner-workings, applications, and uncertainties, we used this diagram to document our understanding of this technology. Machine Learning would become a large part of our future design explorations. I credit this exercise to my confidence in the topic.
After reading about the Transtheoretical Model (also known as the Stages of Change in Behavioral Theory), Matthew Maharaj, Ashamsa Mathew, and I jumped on RealTimeBoard to create a knowledge map relating to this framework. This visual was created by the three of us, simultaneously, in approximately two hours. Information included in this diagram is derived from scholarly articles we had gathered and reviewed the week prior.
In a multi-year Dungeons and Dragons campaign, five of us — four players and a Dungeon Master — gathered on Discord every other week to embark on an epic journey. As our story of adventure, mystery, and hijinks unfolded and plot lines become more complex, I identified the opportunity for a central notetaking space.
Rather than a linear document, I instead laid the foundation for a collaborative, free form mind map. Branches sprouted with intensive notes explaining characters' backstories and motives, conspiracies and storylines, and special magical items. We added visuals, updated relationships, and inscribed side plot stories, the visual ever expanding as the months then years rolled on.
This format allowed us to find connections from seemingly disparate information and strategize our next steps. Our understanding of the fantasy world and characters in it was deepened, leading to an even more engaging and rewarding tabletop gaming experience.
Our digital whiteboard is a testament to our collective creativity and camaraderie—a shared artifact that immortalized our adventures.
When some of my peers presented the idea of creating data portraits, or images representational of ourselves and containing data about ourselves, I was most curious to design a composition pertaining to my freelance business.
Who have I worked with the longest? Are my clients mostly non-profits? Do they give back to the community? Are they owned by military spouses, veterans, or public servants? This information was collected and assembled into a spreadsheet.
Then, each category was assigned a visual style; each colors, font weights, and width of the shape meaning distinct characteristics. The client shapes were then arranged from left to right according to chronological order. (For the privacy of my clients, the visual key is not included in my portfolio.)
