Inside Universal Principles of Storytelling for Designers

“Universal Principles of Storytelling for Designers” consists of one hundred principles that underpin storytelling’s emotional and value-driven impact. Drawing inspiration from classical theatre, literature, anthropology, psychology,philosophy, and film, these principles are arranged alphabetically and organized into five categories.

• Literary Devices: These tools serve as conduits for conveying meaning, elucidating a story’s intent, and influencing human emotions.

• Structure: Representing a story’s blueprint, this element systematically orchestrates the sequence of narrative events.

• Emotions: Functioning as resonant threads, emotions are pivotal in guiding humans toward transformative behaviors.

• Psychology + Philosophy : This category provides insights into how humans receive and respond to stimuli, enriching the narrative with depth and resonance.

• Methods/Tools: Encompassing storytelling’s mechanical and aesthetic facets, these elements wield significant influence over the transformation process.

Each principle is presented in a two-page layout, with a written composition on the left panel and an illustrative element or text-based descriptor on the right panel. I include a “see also” on most pages that will direct you to other contextually relevant principles within this book.

I will be posting a principle once a month until June 17th.

Enjoy and happy storytelling!