Real-Time Animated Storytelling

 
A simple mind mapping exercise to help envision how the course might flow and the various topics that need to be covered.

A simple mind mapping exercise to help envision how the course might flow and the various topics that need to be covered.

Challenge

Real-time Animated Storytelling is a course on the Unity Learn website.

The challenge was to design a course to help artists and storytellers get started with Unity, one that moved step-by-step from foundational learning to more advanced concepts with an accessible project for creative learners.

Discover and Define Strategies

  • Collect observational data / watch learners

  • Interview learners, SME, professionals

  • Research animation program curriculums

  • Collect data on desirable skills in the field

  • Create personas

After many drafts we arrive at polished tutorials.

After many drafts we arrive at polished tutorials.

SOLUTION

The course is 25-hours of step-by-step training material created in under six months. It covers getting started in Unity and introduces learners to several important Unity Tools. It builds conceptual knowledge related to real-time animation and filmmaking topics. The course has been very successful to date with a very high user start rate and many contributions to the public galleries.

Develop and Deliver Strategies

  • Create outlines and collect feedback

  • Iterate and draft a design document

  • Develop the learner journey and outlines

  • Build content, beta test, troubleshoot

  • Iterate/refine with stakeholders, send to QA

The final product.

The final product.

My ROLE

I was the lead architect designing the structure and content of the course, partnering with internal subject matter experts, managing technical writers, procuring the assets and coordinating with legal. I also had an exceptional and hardworking team.

“Thank you for your creativity, vision and passion for this project. You were the fearless leader driving this work forward, from developing the learning design, articulating the creative vision, and aligning cross-functional and cross-vertical teams. You have created a beautiful learning opportunity for artists and technologists, allowing them to tell their stories with Unity.” - Melissa Oldrin, Head of Education Programs, Unity