CommunicatingSustainability

Visual Storytelling:

Arlene Birt | www.backgroundstories.comvisual storyteller & information designer

Part 2 of 3

Lack of ConnectionCommunication Challenges:

Sustainability Depends on Context

Sustainability Depends on Context

It’s a System.

The Pencil’s StoryExercise: Life Cycle Narrative

• Think from the perspective of the pencil.

• What steps and processes do you journey through?

• Using some of the provided info, outline or map the system of this pencil.

Material or Process gms lbs factor eco-impact

graphite (sub. carbon) 1 0.002204623 26 0.057320188red cedar wood 2.6 0.005732019 11 0.063052207aluminum rolling 0.000440925 13 0.005732019aluminum (typical) 0.2 0.000440925 90 0.039683207paperboard (unbleached)/12 0.967 0.025573622 10 0.255736224paint (oil based) 0.4 0.000881849 23 0.020282528eraser (sub. Natural rubber) 0.4 0.000881849 4.1 0.003615581plastic case (HDPE)/12 0.61 0.016314207 12 0.195770489

Production Sub Totals 6.177 0.052470018 0.641192443

Total Eco-Impact Per Pencil 3.487762215

Total Eco-Impact Per Sharpening .0363308564 (Assumes 96 sharpenings per pencil)

Landfill Material gms lbs factor eco-impact

aluminum (typical) 0.2 0.000440925 1000 0.440924524paperboard (unbleached)/12 0.967 0.025573622 85 2.173757905plastic case (HDPE)/12 0.61 0.016314207 8.4 0.137039342

Landfill Sub Totals 2.751721772

Transport LA-Mpls factor tons miles eco-impact 16 ton truck 1/2 full 2.4/ton-mile 0.000026 1520 0.094848

Use Sub Total Per Pencil 0.094848

PRODUCTION:

USE:

END OF LIFE:

MATERIAL LIST: Pencil

The Pencil’s StoryExercise: Life Cycle Narrative

• Think from the perspective of the pencil.

• What steps and processes do you journey through?

• Using some of the provided info, outline or map the system of this pencil.

Examples:Visual Life Cycles:

RAW MATERIALEXTRACTION

by Craig Johnson

Multi-DisciplinaryVisual Storytelling is:

• Graphic Design• Information Design• Communication/Marketing• Psychology

ScienceFacts

+ Art+ Emotion

Methods of Visual Storytelling (to communicate sustainability)

• Narrative/Storyline• Data Visualization• Geographic

http://www.patagonia.com

Narrative:

Narrative:

http://www.gapminder.org

Data Visualization:

California College of the Arts, URBANlab

Geographic:

Benefits of Narrative• Sequential

• Presents info in a clear, step-by-step way

• Everyone loves a good story

Anatomy of a Visual, Narrative Story• Storyline• Content• Evidence (Data & Statistics) • Supporting Text to Add Detail

Storyline:

Content:

Evidence:

Supporting Text:

Interactive Storytelling:

Martini Glass StructureGenres of Interactive Narrative Visualiztion:

Narrative Visualization: Telling Stories with Data by Edward Segel and Jeffrey Heer http://vis.stanford.edu/files/2010-Narrative-InfoVis.pdf

Interactive SlideshowGenres of Interactive Narrative Visualiztion:

Narrative Visualization: Telling Stories with Data by Edward Segel and Jeffrey Heer http://vis.stanford.edu/files/2010-Narrative-InfoVis.pdf

Drill-Down StoryGenres of Interactive Narrative Visualiztion:

Narrative Visualization: Telling Stories with Data by Edward Segel and Jeffrey Heer http://vis.stanford.edu/files/2010-Narrative-InfoVis.pdf

Examples: (my work)

We are endlessly TIED TO THE WORLD through the things that we consume.

Inspire ownership among consumers on the impact of their everyday decisions.

Aim: