1. Personal Apps Assignment Progress (Researches)

Before getting started with the personal apps which are required to do for the transmedia project, I’ve done some research on “transmedia” to let me understand deeper and more about the media platform. Transmedia storytelling, represents a process where integral elements of a fiction get dispersed systematically across different media. It is to create a unified and correlate entertainment experience. Yet, each medium has its value of the contribution to unfold the story. (Jenkins, 2007). However, transmedia storytelling is not only applicable to films, shows or movies. In the past, companies used advertising to communicate with consumers which include brochures, advertisements etc. that are traditional media. As the arrival of the digital generation, it changed the whole process. (LAURA SÁNCHEZ, 2017). Transmedia is used in campaigns marketing, brands, movies and many more. One of the successful examples is the project of a company TOSHIBA. They created an online mini-series with 6 webisodes, called “The Beauty Inside”. Their goal is to connect with their customers meanwhile promoting their new product “TOSHIBA ULTRABOOK”. (LAURA SÁNCHEZ, 2017). 

From the case study above, this is what actually I’m learning in progress ----- to create a transmedia storytelling for our client “GYA LAB” in the meantime promoting their product which is the essential oils. GYA LAB is a company who offers a variety of organic essential oil. During this assessment, we are required to create more transmedia content that is connected to the web series for individual assessment. For example, it could be an app, a website or any other media including offline media that can be related and connected to our main web series. Therefore, I’ve done some research on what media are actually used for transmedia too. 

Other media that can be used in the transmedia storytelling:

A. Apps

B. blogs

C. podcasts

D. events

E. webinars

F. videos

G. social media and many more

(LAURA SÁNCHEZ, 2017). 

(we are marketing, 2020).

_________

After knowing the possibilities of media for transmedia storytelling, I have a rough idea for the individual assessment, as in which media I’m going to create that relates back to the web series of GYA LAB and in the meantime promoting their products. To have more understanding on how to create a transmedia, I did some research on how to create a good transmedia.  

Tips For Creating a Transmedia :

A. create a story world

By creating the tropes; archetypes and clichés for stories, synthesized them into a chart for better understanding. In fact, the orphan model (the Star Wars molecule) is also an effective way to initiate the transmedia story world. Well, it has proven to be the most popular way to initiate a transmedia story world. (Dr. Chester Elijah Branch, 2015).

B. create mystery within the story world

Let it be a mystery to us too when creating the mystery of the story world. From the research by Robert Pratten, he creates a great chart showing the different directions these mystery boxes can take you in your story world. (Pratten, 2015). It shows that we can consider the questions to create the mystery. For example a movie that talks about an orphan, consider the questions - Who is the orphan’s father? Why is the villain bent on destruction? Why are the outcasts outcasts? What-all powers do the MacGuffin(s) hold? How many are there? (Pratten, 2015).

(Pratten, 2015).

C. master the anatomy of the viral video

Tastemakers + Community Remixing + the Unexpected = Viral Video.

Tastemakers mean the celebrities or KOL.

Community Remixing means the fans on the various media outlets.

The Unexpected means the story we created has its twist in it. (Allocca, 2011)

_____________

Well, I get to know more details about the transmedia, which I then decided to choose creating a mobile app as my individual assessment for the web series. However, I faced some limitations which I never created before. Hence, the lecturer suggested that I do the mobile apps as a prototype. As I have limited knowledge on prototype mobile apps, I did extra research on how to create a good prototype and the tips on the user interface. 

Tips to create a prototype of mobile apps :

A. Involve our users (participatory design) (Designs and Craig, 2020)

Participatory design is letting the user involve in the use of mobile apps. It is to built user-feedback into the design process, and, through this process, users could also give us insights about the problems of usability and user experience. 

B. User flow and scenarios (Designs and Craig, 2020)

The key point of the prototype is its functionality, as in it can be not very nice visually but it must be work. It must demonstrate clearly the key idea behind the design.

Here is steps that may helps in the user flow

First, sketch the page flows.

Second, create a low-fidelity digital prototype.

Third, increase fidelity as a final touch.

C. make user interactions as simple as possible (Designs and Craig, 2020) 

Users will feel complicated if there are too many hidden buttons or functions in the apps. They will slowly lose interest in the apps too. Hence, try to make the user interaction as simple as possible that users will understand immediately. 

D. animations (Designs and Craig, 2020)

Animations are always important when it comes to digital stuff such as websites etc. Therefore, it will help us to create a more unified user experience of our apps. Yet, it may let people feel our prototype like the “end-product”, where it is beneficial when having user-testing.

E. sketch the prototype flow (Designs and Craig, 2020)

It is important where people would like to know how to use these apps. Therefore, to ease the process of creating a prototype, sketching the prototype flow is indeed helpful. The goal is to organize and explore our thoughts, concepts, and create a basic structure of the prototype.

F. prototype only what we need (Designs and Craig, 2020)

As the prototype is not creating the whole app with many details, it is about the idea and the visual of how an app will be before becoming a “real app”. Therefore, prototype only what we need and what is important to let the user see.  

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References

Dr. Chester Elijah Branch, 2015. 4 Crucial Tips For Creating A Transmedia Story - Mediashift. [online] MediaShift. Available at: <http://mediashift.org/2015/01/4-crucial-tips-for-creating-a-transmedia-story/> [Accessed 22 May 2020].

Jenkins, H., 2007. Transmedia Storytelling 101 — Henry Jenkins. [online] Henry Jenkins. Available at: <http://henryjenkins.org/blog/2007/03/transmedia_storytelling_101.html> [Accessed 22 May 2020].

LAURA SÁNCHEZ, 2017. What Transmedia Storytelling Is And How To Apply It To Your Digital Campaigns. [online] Wearemarketing.com. Available at: <https://www.wearemarketing.com/blog/what-transmedia-storytelling-is-and-how-to-apply-it-to-your-digital-campaigns.html> [Accessed 22 May 2020].

we are marketing, 2020. The Relentless Pursuit Of Growth. [online] Wearemarketing.com. Available at: <https://www.wearemarketing.com/> [Accessed 22 May 2020].

Allocca, K., 2011. Why Videos Go Viral. [online] Ted.com. Available at: <https://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_allocca_why_videos_go_viral?language=en> [Accessed 22 May 2020].

Pratten, R., 2015. Getting Started In Transmedia Storytelling. 2nd ed.

Designs, 1. and Craig, W., 2020. 10 Tips For Prototyping Your Designs. [online] WebFX Blog. Available at: <https://www.webfx.com/blog/web-design/tips-prototyping-designs/> [Accessed 22 May 2020].