From this unit I have come to appreciate how both photography and digital storytelling demand patience, attention to detail, and willingness to grow through adversity. From balancing shots and innovating creatively, to restructuring web pages, and refining my artistic voice-each step has pushed me to think critically and expressively.
While the process was not always easy, the progress has been incredible rewarding. I now approach each new task with greater confidence, knowing that each and every obstacle is an opportunity to learn, improve, and tell more compelling stories.
This unit’s focus was all about diving into the world of design. The Vignelli Canon offered valuable insight into the importance of structure and intentionality. It helped me to realize how much influence design has on society. Not just visually, but functionally.
While I understood that companies and corporations use design to attract customers, I had not fully grasped the depth of strategy and thought behind every logo, product, and advertisement. It all beings where leads and designers brainstorm ideas that serve both the brand and users.
Audio storytelling reminded me that storytelling isn’t all about visuals-it includes sound, emotion, and rhythm. Whether it evokes nostalgia or new paths, audio storytelling has the power to connect deeply with listeners. I was extremely happy to explore this medium as my Disney Lyric Mashup brought back several memories for me and my father when I was a little boy.
One standout moment was exploring Roger Ebert’s “Cinema Interruptus”- the collaborative frame-by-frame dissection of a film with a diverse group of people. I thought this to be incredible engaging and thought provoking for all those attended the film events.
Although video production comes naturally to me, my focus shifted past just completing the projects. My focus was on elevating them beyond what I might have done a year ago. I pushed myself with experimenting formats and shots I normally would not try, like a “GRWM” or a “Ranking MCU Movies” video.
These projects helped me to step outside of my comfort zone and explore personal tones and style.
This past week, I created a character who transforms into a villain and joins a notorious community of infamous figures-Ghostface, Freddy Krueger, Micharl Myers, Jason Voorhees, Dexter Morgan, and more. My task was to blend traditional storytelling with digital media techniques, and I chose to create an origin story that explores trauma, revenge, and identity.
My Character, Whisper, was bullied throughout his childhood and academic life. After suffering the loss of his parents in a fire, enduring relentless isolation, and constant abuse, he orchestrates a trap to confront those who tormented him. Eventually, he discovers a flyer ad for a job for villains and is recruited by Ghostface himself. This leads him to an annual villain expo where he begins his reign of terror.
Over the past 5 weeks, I have learned how detailed and intentional digital storytelling truly is. It is a balance of structure and spontaneity, but yet imaginative. If I could redo the entire class, I would have built every project within the unit around a singular narrative, like I did with this final one. I have enjoyed the variation of projects I created; however, I still think it would have been fascinating to see how each piece could have contributed to a larger, more cohesive story.
The final project was by far the most exciting for me. I didn’t expect to take it as far as I did, and I intentionally left gaps in the story to spark curiosity and invite interpretation. This experience has inspired me to consider expanding the concept into a potential book series.
I love taking small moments in a character’s life and building entire worlds around them-worlds where they face real-world problems, emotional complexity, and moral ambiguity.
This project gave me the freedom to let my thoughts roam, fingers type, my mind to create, and my eyes to design and edit. It was a creatively liberating experience, and one that reminded me why I love storytelling in all its forms.
