For the past few weeks, I’ve been creating a mini-documentary about the use of spectral evidence in the Salem Witch Trials, entitled Whispers from Salem. Since I will be completing this entire project in seven weeks, I worked primarily on pre-production and planning for the first three weeks.

Last week, I built a script outline with my research notes. For the script outline, I cut apart the research notes and glued passages where they would best fit into the three-act story template. So, I followed the organized script outline to draft a rough script for my mini-documentary, Whispers from Salem. 

Last week, I created a Project Plan for a proposed mini-documentary about the Salem Witch Trials. The Witch Trials are a common topic, but the information often gets mixed up with other colonial witch hunts. In this mini-documentary, I’ve chosen to focus primarily on the use of spectral evidence in witchcraft convictions.

Over seven weeks, my goal is to create a mini-documentary about the Salem Witch Trials, focusing primarily on the influence of gossip, rumors, and spectral evidence. With such a tight deadline rapidly approaching, project planning will be the most beneficial tool in this process.

“You will keep silent.” Historians disagree on whether these were Bridget Bishop’s final words at her execution. Bishop was the first accused witch to be hanged in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and the quote is often referenced as her final words, but it isn’t contained within any records.

Prototypes help designers with testing and modeling design ideas. Prototyping tools allow for more effective communication and collaboration between designers and clients to ensure all parties are on the same page.

Paper prototypes are generally low-fidelity sketches of the different user interfaces needed for a mobile app or website. Since they are simple and easy to replicate, they can be rapidly designed, simulated, and tested.

You have an idea; now, how do you express it? Working visually helps your mind break down creative barriers. Paper prototypes are sketches of the user interface you plan for your app idea.

A User Flow is a pathway detailing the steps a prototypical user would take to accomplish a task or set of tasks. The flowchart maps out each action or decision a user makes along the journey between their entry point in an app or website to the final action.

Information architecture is a discipline dedicated to understanding the complexities of organizing digital information. Essentially, it represents the structural design of a digital product. In a mobile-first world, information architecture continuously expands into mobile navigation.

Information architecture is geared toward enhancing user experience by organizing digital content. This structure builds a framework for content and helps users complete tasks effortlessly.

In the housing market, homes without a solid foundation have a lower market value. Homes with structural damage are valued even less. Prospective buyers might look at curb appeal, layout, or neighborhoods. But, a faulty foundation is often a deal-breaker.

Idea generation is an art form and not easily mastered without effort. The goal of ideation is a quality design to solve specific problems or issues, but the primary focus is quantity rather than quality. Greater numbers of ideas create a higher likelihood of effectively solving the problem at hand. 

Humans are innate storytellers. Whether it be drawings on a cave wall or spooky campfire myths, we have a desire to share stories. So, what better way to communicate than with a story?

Often faced with an impending deadline, UX designers need a foolproof method for battling creativity blocks. Ideation helps designers develop various and broad ideas on a topic without judgment.

Great design is about solving problems. To find innovative solutions, however, you must first identify the problem. Think about your design like a puzzle; you need to understand what the puzzle should look like to figure out where each puzzle piece belongs.

Traditionally, marketing teams geared their designs toward a general consumer demographic. In doing so, they established a "one size fits all" approach to features and functionality.