At Green Fin Studio, we are expert matchmakers; we have been pairing environmental stories with the perfect methods for telling them for 15 years. With so many communication tools, how do you choose which format fits your story? Below are some questions that could help you narrow down the list. The suggestions included are not exhaustive; reach out to hello@greenfinstudio.com to discuss your unique story and what form it could take.    

Is your story specific to a location or locations?

If you’re telling a local story, you can make any communication product place-based; however, there are several methods that work especially well for site-specific stories.

Signage is perfect for local stories because it is experienced by your audience within the place itself for added context. Signs are a great way to engage people visiting a specific site, like a restoration project, museum, or trail. Though they are static, additional information and interactivity can be added through QR codes.

ArcGIS StoryMaps allow you to include map layers and virtual tours in your storytelling while being accessible from any computer. Plus, StoryMaps are truly multimedia; you can combine maps, photos, videos, external links, and written content.

Is your story very scientific or technical?

Conceptual diagrams are terrific for explaining intricate processes in a visual way. Opting for a conceptual diagram over pages of texts makes the product more eye-catching, engaging, and understandable for wide audiences. For even more appeal, conceptual diagrams can be animated.

When you can’t get around having text to effectively tell your story, a brief report can help you also incorporate engaging layouts and visual media like graphics and photos. Brief reports are especially useful for summarizing larger technical documents in a more accessible format.

Is your story all about people?

Video is a highly engaging medium, especially when people are the focus. Interviewing people about their lived experiences and creating the overarching narrative with their words allows you to showcase those who contributed to your story while imparting valuable authenticity that helps your story to resonate with broad audiences.

Case studies are a short and sweet way to highlight the superstars at the center of your story. While they can take many forms, we often design these to be a one page PDF for digestibility and shareability – whether digital or printed. Photos of real people and visuals that highlight impact make these engaging products that ground your story with real-world examples.

While the examples above outline common cases, we always approach new stories with flexibility; sometimes, a very technical topic needs a video to adequately share the story or a place-based story needs a case study. In addition, we often mix and match formats to enrich the product. A prime example is the ocean acidification introductory video we crafted for the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network; though focused on the science-based story of ocean acidification, the video format works well for engaging the desired audience (students!) and the animated conceptual diagrams included help explain the more technical aspects.

Want to know what format is the perfect match for your story? We’re happy to help!