As a child, were you eager to snag the Sunday paper with the comic section? Did you ever collect comic books or make sketches of your own? Maybe you still do. It’s amazing how such complex ideas can be conveyed through such simple illustrations. You might have also looked forward to the Saturday morning cartoons, bouncing out of bed with more far more energy than on a school morning, eager to watch the latest shenanigans of Tom and Jerry. Did you ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of creating those lively animations? Many movies and shows use storyboards, which can resemble comic strips, to convey key aspects of the plot and important details of the production process like dialogue, camera angles, and transitions. 

Although storyboards are a key part of film planning, the tool can also be incredibly useful in the business world to convey other “stories,” like the user experience. The visually engaging format of a storyboard can help explain more complex ideas and keep people engaged with the project.¹ Especially in a pitch for a marketing video or project launch, a storyboard can be a fantastic tool to reel in those who are eager to collaborate and be inspired by a product as big as the big screen itself.

Consider the introduction of yet another app designed to streamline grocery delivery. A storyboard for this proposed app would visually map out the user's journey from identifying their need for groceries to the end of their experience with the app, satisfied with a successful grocery delivery.  

The storyboard might start with a frame showing a busy professional realizing they’re out of groceries, leading into a scene where they open the app and navigate the home page. Next, a frame might depict their selection of items, followed by a simple checkout process. Further frames could highlight real-time tracking of the order and culminate in a happy delivery moment where the hungry person receives their groceries at their doorstep. Ideally, each of these frames strips away unnecessary complexity, focusing only on key touchpoints—no extraneous technical details or jargon, just the emotional beats of the experience, making it easier to identify potential friction points. Unlike spreadsheets of data or long documents of written explanations, a storyboard instantly conveys the emotional highs and lows by translating abstract user experience concepts into a more coherent visual sequence. 

Continuity: Ensures that visuals and story elements remain consistent across frames, such as character placement, lighting, and props. Establishing continuity means minimizing inconsistencies that might confuse the viewer or disrupt the narrative flow.¹

Frames: Individual panels within a storyboard that represent specific moments, actions, or shots in the narrative. Each frame captures a snapshot of the story and helps visualize the progression of the plot.¹

Sequence: The chronological order of frames that depict the unfolding of events or actions within the storyboard. It helps structure the narrative flow, guiding the viewer through the story in a cohesive manner.¹

Shot: A specific camera angle or perspective captured in a frame, such as a wide shot, medium shot, or close-up. It defines how the action or scene is viewed and is crucial for conveying emotion or setting.¹

Scene: A distinct section of the storyboard that represents a particular location or event in the story. It marks a change in time or setting, with multiple scenes combining to form the larger narrative.¹

Visual Narrative: Storytelling conveyed through images, symbols, and design elements rather than text. It allows the viewer to interpret the story through visual cues, helping to guide emotions, pacing, and actions.¹

Transitions: Techniques used to indicate how one scene or shot shifts to another within the storyboard. They help maintain continuity and smooth flow between scenes, and may include fades, cuts, dissolves, or wipes.¹

Annotations: Notes added to the storyboard frames to clarify actions, dialogue, camera movements, or other specific details. These help the production team understand the visual intent and technical aspects of the scene.¹

Layout: The arrangement of frames on the storyboard, which influences how the narrative is read and understood. A well-organized layout ensures that the flow of the story is easy to follow and visually engaging.¹

Are you a movie lover? Maybe you’ve seen clips of the old days of traditional animation when cartoonists stacked their drawings on top of each other, one after the other, rapidly flipping through pages until the characters began to move, bringing the scene to life. The storyboard’s roots are deeply embedded in the processes behind animation and filmmaking, which have evolved significantly over time. Whether comprised of detailed drawings or simple sketches, storyboards have always been vital to bringing concepts to life and onto the screen.¹

The formalization of storyboarding as we know it today began in the early 1930s at Walt Disney Studios. Animator Webb Smith is widely credited with pioneering the technique. According to The Walt Disney Family Museum, Smith proposed sketching scenes on individual sheets of paper and pinning them to a bulletin board, allowing the creative team to pick up the physical pages and rearrange the order of the scenes to check for continuity or pacing errors. With the pages pinned up, the narrative of the animated stories was not only clearly visible but also more flexible. The idea was said to be inspired by a graphic novel that illustrated the cartoon story that ultimately became Steamboat Willie.² 

The first notable use of storyboarding was for Disney’s 1933 animated short film, Three Little Pigs. Although kids today may not be as familiar with the film, its major success at the time demonstrated the power of storyboarding in enhancing storytelling and streamlining the production workflow behind the scenes. The storyboarding technique was further refined during the creation of the famous Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), the first full-length animated feature film. Now that we have digital animation software and even AI generation tools, it’s hard to comprehend the immense amount of work it took to produce a film like this in 1937. The animation was essentially all done by hand, taking over three years and nearly 2 million separate paintings. 

The extensive storyboards created for this project helped coordinate the efforts of hundreds of animators, ensuring consistency and coherence in both the narrative and visuals. Disney was known to be one the first film producers who understood the importance of such consistency and even insisted on having a separate story department with artists specialized in storyboarding.2 Walt Disney felt that this attention to detail allowed his films to create a captivating story and lovable characters, and ultimately his audiences agreed; today, Disney films continue to top the charts of the highest-grossing films of all time.³ 

Although storyboarding began as a technique used in animation, its advantages quickly caught the attention of live-action filmmakers and directors like Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock is often known for his meticulous use of storyboards to plan out complex sequences, particularly for suspenseful scenes that required precise visual timing. In films like Psycho (1960), Hitchcock worked with graphic designer and filmmaker Saul Bass to convey complex ideas through simple visuals. They showcased the power of storyboarding in film design and used detailed storyboards to craft the iconic shower scene, allowing the filmmakers to visualize each camera angle and cut before filming began.⁴ 

By the 1940s and 1950s, storyboarding had become a standard practice in both animation and live-action films, but its influence soon expanded beyond Hollywood. In the advertising industry, the visual outline provided by storyboards contributed to their growing popularity for pitching commercial concepts to clients. Storyboards served as a fantastic way to explain how a campaign would unfold.¹

In the 1980s and 1990s, with the explosion of the video game industry, storyboarding evolved to accommodate interactive storytelling in game development. Although video games of this era may not have been as complicated as modern games, they had begun to introduce features like cutscenes and nonlinear player choices. Game designers used storyboards as a way to map out these features, gameplay mechanics, and more complex narrative arcs.¹ 

Slowly, traditional hand-drawn storyboards transitioned to digital formats. Like many other fields, storyboarding became both more complex and less difficult to create with software tools like Storyboard Pro and Adobe Photoshop. These presentation programs allowed for more easily editable and collaborative storyboarding processes, meaning that more people could pitch in. Today, industries like UX/UI design, virtual reality (VR) development, and even product design rely on digital storyboards to plan things like user interactions, which is the point of contact between a user and an interface, and user workflows, which map the user’s experience from end to end.^1,5

The abundance of new storyboarding technology and the new ways that storyboards could be applied across industries inspired other technological variations to the traditional static storyboard. These updates included animatics, where editing software is used to add motion, timing, and audio to storyboards. Animatics are essentially a rough preview of the final product or an animated storyboard with a soundtrack. In the product development world, interactive storyboards are also created to help visualize user journeys and interface interactions. These complex storyboards rely on software to incorporate web design and app development.⁵ 

One of the latest developments is the use of 3D storyboards, sometimes called previsualization or “previs.” These incorporate 3D models to simulate camera movements, lighting, and complex action sequences, especially in films with heavy virtual effects. Ultimately, storyboarding is no longer limited to visual media; although the concept and many storyboard softwares were originally developed for the world of the big screen, storyboarding is now also used in education, business strategy, software development, and advertising, serving as a versatile tool for organizing ideas and planning processes visually.⁵ 

Webb Smith 

A Disney animator often credited as the inventor of the storyboard when he first introduced the idea of sketching scenes on separate sheets of paper and pinning them to a board to visualize the flow of animated sequences in the early 1930s. His innovation became the foundation of modern storyboarding practices in film and animation.²

Walt Disney

A film producer who was a pioneer in the animation industry and the visionary behind Disney Studios. Disney recognized the potential of storyboards to enhance storytelling efficiency. Under his leadership, storyboarding became a standard practice, first used extensively in the production of Three Little Pigs (1933) and later perfected in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).²

Alfred Hitchcock 

An English film director who is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. Known for his meticulous planning, Hitchcock relied heavily on storyboards to pre-visualize his suspenseful sequences, particularly in films like Psycho (1960) and North by Northwest (1959). His precise use of storyboards ensured tight control over framing, pacing, and dramatic tension.⁴

Saul Bass 

A renowned graphic designer and filmmaker, Bass used storyboards to design iconic title sequences for films like Vertigo (1958) and Psycho (1960). His ability to convey complex ideas through simple visuals showcased the power of storyboarding in motion graphics and film design.⁴

The versatility of this tool goes beyond just visual planning. Storyboards can enhance cross-department collaboration, influence education and training methods, and strengthen pitching and fundraising efforts by transforming abstract ideas into clear and engaging visual narratives.

Cross-Department Collaboration

Making a movie is a complex endeavor. For major films, there can be hundreds of people involved in the production process. Storyboards serve as a universal language between directors, cinematographers, editors, production designers, and visual effects teams. With so many people involved, a central tool like a storyboard can help align the (potentially many) creative visions, making it easier for large teams to work cohesively.^1,6 Particularly for complex projects with detailed action sequences or visual effects, it’s important that the vision is clear before shooting begins. Some scenes are so complex or resource-intensive (think of epic shots where a car explodes or a building burns down) that they can only be shot once, so it’s vital that everyone is in agreement with how the scene will look before someone yells “action.”  

Influence on Education and Training

Outside the film world, storyboarding is used in education and as an important training tool. In the classroom, teachers can use storyboards as a way to teach narrative structure, visual literacy, and design thinking. Although there are plenty of simplified storyboarding software programs, students can also work with a physical, hands-on cut-out of their ideas. Imagine if kids are told they can create a comic-style sketch of their ideas instead of simply writing out a traditional essay—for some, this might inspire them to be excited about writing by approaching the creative process in an inventive way. This type of work with storyboards has been found to encourage students to participate actively, artistically, and intellectually in classroom activities. With a broader range of teaching methods for instructors to rely on, students can build their leadership and creative problem-solving skills in new ways.⁶ 

Storyboards are also a powerful tool for professionals to organize ideas, develop presentations, and communicate complex concepts visually. Many adults also benefit from visual representations of ideas, and as they go through training processes, storyboards can keep them engaged, bringing up discussions that might not have otherwise occurred if the training followed the more typical and formal format of a lecture or long reading.⁶ 

Strengthened Pitching and Fundraising Efforts 

Whether you’re fundraising for a nonprofit or a business venture, the story you tell to potential investors is important. Storyboards have the power to transform abstract ideas into tangible, visual narratives that truly resonate with potential stakeholders. They can act as visual proof of concept, helping prospective investors see what the final product might look like, making the vision more concrete and emotionally engaging. For example, George Lucas famously used detailed storyboards to pitch Star Wars to the 20th Century Fox executives. The visuals helped them grasp the scope of the project, even though the sci-fi concept was unfamiliar and risky at the time.

The more easily accessible and universal language created by the storyboard allows stakeholders to become aligned with a project’s goals. The storyboard not only clears up any miscommunication or uncertainty right away, but also, much like how a storyboard can engage reluctant students more readily than a dry lecture, the visuals and action can bring people into the heart of the vision and create excitement.¹

While storyboards are powerful tools for planning and visualizing ideas, they’re not without controversy. Issues arise when they limit creative flexibility, overshadow collaborative input, or create unrealistic expectations in pitches and budgeting. 

Mechanical Approach 

Particularly in fields like film production or advertising, an over-reliance on storyboards could lead to a mechanical approach to something that is supposed to be an art form. In film, the storyboard should be a draft of the vision that still allows for flexibility and can be adapted when inspiration strikes. Just like any other outline, those using the storyboard have to be open to exploring emerging ideas and keeping a dynamic approach to the process. Imagine if you, as a director, were shooting a film on the beach. One evening, the most amazing sunset lights up the sky; the colors seem to fit the mood of your film perfectly, and yet you are hesitant to start filming because your storyboard didn’t include any shots at sunset. It would be a shame if the rigidity of the storyboard kept you from exploring the fluidity of nature and potentially creating an even more beautiful scene than the one you had planned.¹

Strict adherence to storyboards might also sideline input from some of the many other key creative contributors on your set. The actors, designers, cinematographers, or special effects teams are likely filled with talented minds, and a collaborative environment (whether in film or otherwise) often sparks some of the best results. It’s thus important to ensure the storyboard is flexible enough to allow others to offer fresh insights during the production process.

Budget Justification

Although storyboards can do a fantastic job of selling an idea to stakeholders, there’s always the possibility that a pitch with a well-crafted storyboard could oversell the vision. The storyboard’s visual appeal might not reflect what’s actually achievable, and this could be a major problem for potential investors. Like any good pitch, there needs to be a balance of inspiration and room for imagination, mixed with a realistic assessment of what’s feasible. 

Psycho’s Shower Scene 

Are you scared of showering when you’re home alone? You’re definitely not the only one. That fear may have come from the infamous shower scene in director Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 classic, Psycho. As discussed, Hitchcock’s film is not only a cinematic masterpiece but also a prime example of how storyboarding can shape the creative process and final product. The shower scene, in particular, is often highlighted as one of the most meticulously storyboarded sequences in film history. When Hitchcock collaborated with illustrator Saul Bass, they created more than just a rough visual outline. Their storyboard was a detailed, frame-by-frame guide that captured the pacing, camera angles, and emotional intensity of the scene that still gives viewers goosebumps today. Given the scene’s complexity, which involves portraying brutal violence without showing explicit gore, the storyboard played a crucial role in alluding to psychological terror and creating the suspense that’s so palpable in the scene. Hitchcock believed that if the sequence was storyboarded perfectly, the actual filming would be purely mechanical, as every shot was already pre-planned.⁴

The storyboard had explicit directions on the camera angles and dictated rapid, jarring cuts to create a sense of chaos, contrasting with the smooth, flowing water. The storyboard emphasized that the pacing should involve a quick succession of no fewer than 78 camera setups, which all occurred in just 45 seconds of screen time.⁴ This meticulously planned storyboard and scene, combined with the background musical score, was used to control the audience’s emotional response. The scene ultimately became iconic not just for its content but for its innovative use of editing, sound, and suggestion—all of which were painstakingly executed from the storyboard.

Product Development at Airbnb

If you have traveled recently, you might have benefited from another genius implementation of storyboarding, this time not related to film. When Airbnb was still a struggling startup, the founders faced a critical problem; despite having a functional website, user engagement was low, and the company wasn’t gaining traction. To address this, the founders and their team turned to storyboarding and created detailed storyboards that mapped out the entire customer journey, from discovering Airbnb to booking a stay and leaving a review.⁷
One of the first things the team realized was that technical functionality alone wasn’t enough; they needed to create an emotional connection with users. By visualizing every step of the customer’s interaction with the platform, they could identify user experience pain points, as well as opportunities for delight. Like any good deep dive into user experience, this approach shifted their focus from just “how the product works” to “how the product feels.”⁷

In the Airbnb storyboards, the team followed fictional guests representing different types of users, visualizing their journey through the site, which helped uncover some areas of confusion that a data analysis would’ve likely missed. The storyboards also fostered empathy and collaboration among the team, allowing designers, engineers, and executives to see the product from the user’s perspective rather than through their usual technical metrics. Ultimately, this led to significant changes in Airbnb’s platform design; they simplified the booking process, improved the search functionality, and added features to build trust, like host profiles and guest reviews.⁷ Perhaps Airbnb’s skyrocketing success is partly due to the changes that came from this storyboarding endeavor! 

User Journey Map 

While a storyboard can visually depict a concept’s journey through time, a user journey map’s primary aim is to build a comprehensive representation of the user’s experience to inform design, marketing, and decision-making processes. This piece explores how behavioral scientists and business leaders alike can use a user journey map to shape the customer experience from end to end. 

How to create journey maps to improve EX (Employee Experience) 

The employee experience can be a complicated one, but mapping out their journey through the company with a storyboard or user journey map can help leaders understand their team members’ experiences. In this article, a user journey map is applied to user experience on an organization-wide level. 

1. Angelone, S. (2021). Storyboardgraphy. Visual Studies, 36(4–5), 421–425. https://doi.org/10.1080/1472586X.2021.1889401 
2. Pallant, C., Price, S. (2015). Storyboarding at Disney. In: Storyboarding. Palgrave Studies in Screenwriting. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137027603_3 
3. The Numbers. (n.d.). Walt Disney market share and box office performance. Retrieved February 1, 2025, from https://www.the-numbers.com/market/distributor/walt-Disney
4. Crow, J. (2014, February 19). Who directed the Psycho shower scene? Open Culture. Retrieved February 1, 2025, from https://www.openculture.com/2014/02/who-directed-the-psycho-shower-scene.html 
5. Singh, Y.S., Saha, B. (2021). Implementation of Digital Techniques Process Through the Storyboard for Better Understanding in Visual Narratives. In: Chakrabarti, A., Poovaiah, R., Bokil, P., Kant, V. (eds) Design for Tomorrow—Volume 1. ICoRD 2021. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 221. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0041-8_62 
6. Ayob, S., & Omidire, M. F. (2021). Storyboards as a Qualitative Method of Exploring Learners’ Experience With the Use of a Multilingual Support Strategy. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211034391 
7. Li, Jing & Hudson, Simon & So, Kevin Kam Fung. (2019). Exploring the customer experience with Airbnb. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research. ahead-of-print. 10.1108/IJCTHR-10-2018-0148.