How can storytelling help you communicate the value of spatial planning to the public?

1 Why storytelling?

Storytelling is not only a form of entertainment, but also a way to make sense of the world, connect with others, and express values and emotions. Through storytelling, you can communicate the value of spatial planning to the public by capturing their attention with an intriguing narrative and visuals. You can also build trust by demonstrating empathy and understanding, educate them about the benefits, challenges, and trade-offs of spatial planning, motivate them to take action or support your vision by appealing to their values and emotions, and create a shared identity and vision by involving them in the storytelling process.

2 What elements make a good story?

A good story has four main elements: a clear goal, a relatable protagonist, a conflict or challenge, and a resolution or outcome. To apply these elements to your spatial planning story, you need to define your goal, such as informing, persuading, or inspiring your audience. Then, identify your protagonist and make them relatable and sympathetic to your audience. Create a conflict or challenge that relates to spatial planning and show how your protagonist overcomes or addresses it. Finally, illustrate the result or impact of their actions and demonstrate the value of spatial planning.

3 How to structure your story?

A good story has a clear structure that guides your audience through the narrative. A common structure is the three-act model, which starts with the setup. Here, you introduce your protagonist, their context, and their goal, as well as the conflict or challenge they face and why it matters. Then comes the confrontation, where you show how your protagonist tries to achieve their goal and what obstacles or complications they encounter. You also demonstrate how they adapt, learn, or change along the way. Finally, in the resolution you show how your protagonist resolves or overcomes the conflict or challenge, and what outcome or impact they achieve. This outcome or impact reflects the value of spatial planning.

5 How to involve your audience?

To involve your audience in your story, you should first understand who they are, what they care about, what they know, and what they need. Tailor your story to their interests, values, and expectations. Additionally, invite feedback from your audience and use it to improve your story and plan. Invite your audience to contribute to your story and plan by creating opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, and co-creation. Doing so will help you engage with your audience on a deeper level.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?