HOW TO EXPLAIN IMPACTFUL PROJECTS: STORYBOARD+ STAR METHOD

Helping designers visualize, outline, and describe their project work concisely and with clarity during interviews.

INSTRUCTIONS:

This framework is to help designers identify and prioritize which parts of projects they want to discuss with potential employers, or anyone else, when presenting their work. I have combined a visualization took that most designers are familiar with and the STAR methodology that focuses on succinctly explaining projects for interviews. Designers can feel free to sketch and write content as they use this method to suit their needs.

This is just a foundation to work with to guide designers to think thoughtfully about what to say, how to say it, and how to find a thread to weave together a project description in 10 minutes or less. I recommend keeping the presentation short so that the designer may use the following minutes to engage with the hiring manager and create and more conversational environment, encouraging questions and increasing engagement during the interview process.

1. I recommend to start with the outcome of the project in frame #6 and the impact it had. Impact can be measured by what the intended impact should be or may be (soft impact) or by an actual metric. Clearly stating who, why, and what impact your product has had is extraordinarily important. 
2. Next move on to state what the problem space was and where there were potential opportunities. Provide context as to why the ask exists and any other information that will frame the story.
3. The 4 middle frames should be a mixture of your tasks and actions explained through BRAG statements that showcase what you did that was special and made an impact on moving the project forward. 
4. Figure out the thread that will help weave your story together. Was your impact about your amazing trend analysis? Or maybe your deep understanding of specific human behavior? Identifying the tie between your frames will help you weave a seamless story of what you can achieve as part of a team.
5. For each brag frame (total of 4) have three bullet points written out to help remind you what milestones you hit, actions you took, or challenges you overcame.
6. Keep your BRAG frame explanations to no more than 2 minutes a piece. Remember you want to have a more thorough conversation WITH the interviewer about the project than just talking at them

My hope is that this method will help guide you to be a little more precise about the information you share during the precious minutes we have during an interview to make our best impression.

Please note this is a guide to help you, it is not set in stone. It is meant to be flexible for your needs. Take the time to practice telling your story to someone new to ensure your story is clear and can be followed by anyone.

Good luck!

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-Stephanie Krell