Avi Solomon

1. Storyboard your User ManualStoryboard your User Manual
Avi SolomonAvi Solomon
avisolo@gmail.comavisolo@gmail.com

2. A Storyboard is a sequence of imagesA Storyboard is a sequence of images
and words drawn together on a pageand words drawn together on a page
to form a plausible narrativeto form a plausible narrative

3. Storyboards are routinely used in the movie makingStoryboards are routinely used in the movie making
business to ‘walkthrough' a movie before a single shotbusiness to ‘walkthrough' a movie before a single shot
is taken.is taken.

4. Not only does a storyboard allow for a dress rehearsal of the finalNot only does a storyboard allow for a dress rehearsal of the final
product but by the very fact of being posted on the wall, it elicitsproduct but by the very fact of being posted on the wall, it elicits
early feedback and encourages quick, painless editing, leading toearly feedback and encourages quick, painless editing, leading to
significant savings in time and resources.significant savings in time and resources.
Disney was a storyboarding freak!Disney was a storyboarding freak!

5. so is M. Night Shyamalam!so is M. Night Shyamalam!

6. Storyboarding has spread far beyond filmmaking.Storyboarding has spread far beyond filmmaking.
It is an effective means of producing books quickly.It is an effective means of producing books quickly.

7. I first encountered storyboarding as a productionI first encountered storyboarding as a production
method in the famous 1965 STOP report.method in the famous 1965 STOP report.

8. I’ve successfully used storyboards to produceI’ve successfully used storyboards to produce
quality Technical Documentation since 1999quality Technical Documentation since 1999

9. Here’s an example of anHere’s an example of an
initial storyboard topic .initial storyboard topic .
There were 50 topicThere were 50 topic
storyboards for the userstoryboards for the user
manual. I created themanual. I created the
storyboards in Visio andstoryboards in Visio and
had the development teamhad the development team
review it very quickly.review it very quickly.
You can either print andYou can either print and
post the storyboards on apost the storyboards on a
conference room wall orconference room wall or
give each team member agive each team member a
bound storyboard bookletbound storyboard booklet
for individual review.for individual review.
Sure beats gettingSure beats getting
engineers to review aengineers to review a
word document!word document!

10. I collated the feedbackI collated the feedback
from the development teamfrom the development team
and quickly came up withand quickly came up with
the initial topic content.the initial topic content.
As the product developed IAs the product developed I
was able to keep up withwas able to keep up with
the many changesthe many changes
throughout the userthroughout the user
manual.manual.
The storyboard review alsoThe storyboard review also
led team members toled team members to
reflect on the prospectivereflect on the prospective
user interactions and makeuser interactions and make
improvements in theimprovements in the
software user interface.software user interface.
There were no delays on myThere were no delays on my
part during the project andpart during the project and
everyone was satisfied!everyone was satisfied!

11. I hope this little demo has given you theI hope this little demo has given you the
push to use Storyboarding to producepush to use Storyboarding to produce
quality Technical Documentation!quality Technical Documentation!
email me for a Storyboard template pack:email me for a Storyboard template pack:
avisolo@gmail.comavisolo@gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/avisolomonhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/avisolomon