Creating a reusable AI character for strategic storytelling in design

Discover how to elevate your design storytelling with a reusable AI character. This in-depth guide takes you through the creative process, from concept to storyboard.

As product designers, we often grapple with the complex task of making intricate ideas approachable and engaging for our users. Storytelling is a powerful tool in this regard, but how can we elevate it further? My recent journey into the realm of AI and character design led me to an innovative solution: a reusable AI character that can take storytelling in design to the next level.

MidJourney: The Concept of a Reusable Character

The idea is simple but powerful. Create a consistent, reusable character that can be deployed across various scenarios. This character acts as a recurring element, lending depth and continuity to your story. It’s akin to having a well-loved protagonist in a novel who readers can follow through various adventures, making the narrative more compelling.

Storyboarding: Crafting the Narrative

Once the character is developed, the next step is to incorporate them into different scenes. Using ChatGPT, I created a storyboard that animates the character in various situations. This not only makes the character more relatable but also enhances the overall storytelling by providing a visual narrative.

A Step-by-step Guide to Creating Your Own Reusable Character

Create the Character: Begin with a design prompt that outlines your vision. For example: A detailed three-view, full-body, street style photo of a woman, shot on Kodak Gold 200.
Upscale the Image: Locate an image that perfectly encapsulates your vision and upscale it using relevant software.
Capture the Angles: Screenshot each angle of your upscaled image and paste them back into a Discord message for future reference.
Imagine Prompt for Different Scenes: Create new prompts to imagine your character in different scenarios. For instance, you could use: A woman thoughtfully browsing in a high-end mall store,followed by detailed settings and styles to make the scene vivid and expressive.

Conclusion

The result of this creative process is a reusable character that not only adds depth and continuity to your storytelling but also serves as a versatile tool for conveying complex ideas in an engaging way. In the ever-evolving landscape of design, innovative solutions like this one are not just beneficial; they are essential.