7 Images that tell a Story
Every design should tell a story. Whether it's a big story with a lot of complex narratives and emotions or a simple story that is straightforward and direct. Below are 7 images I believe tell a story to their audience.
Wi-fries
This first image is an advertisement for McDonald’s. The branding reminds the audience of the brand's purpose and how it can serve the viewer's needs simply, while advertising free Wi-Fi at its locations. This is an example of a simple image that still tells a story creatively.
Abbey Road
To me, this image is one of the most iconic in music. Beyond the massive success of the Beatles and the album Abbey Road, this image, to me, tells the story of four men stepping into a new phase of life rather than remaining at a crossroads with unsure direction. While this is the last album the band recorded together, the image simply depicts each man's own style and energy. The location of the image tells a story about the recording process, as it was taken outside the studio where the music was created.
Sailor Nurse kiss
This image seems to tell a story of love and joy. It also captures an authentic moment in life, captured by a photographer. This image was taken after the end of World War 2 and despite the image itself, the nurse in the image, in years following, came out and said that the kiss was unplanned and more of an act of celebration rather than love and romance, as she did not know the sailor in the image.
The Goonies
This image is a still from one of my favorite movies, The Goonies. To me, this image shows a group of boys on the edge of growing up and adventure. I can see an air of mystery or dysfunction in the image based on each boy’s face in the image.
Psycho
This image allows for an immediate sensory reaction from its audience. This image immediately makes me feel fear. This is a still from one of the most iconic horror films ever made. Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is renowned for its terrifying power with audiences worldwide. The shower scene has inspired hundreds of films and TV shows.
We Can Do It!
This image is an iconic wartime poster that reflects the issues of its time. This image of Rosie the Riveter evokes feelings of inspiration, power, and strength. The image was created to inspire the women in America who stepped up and into action after many men were drafted to fight in the war. Women began developing and working in manufacturing factories. This image has also inspired women long after the war ended.
Challengers
This image is a movie poster for a blockbuster movie released in the summer of 2024. Challengers follows an ex-tennis player and her shared romantic history with two fellow tennis players. The poster shows a man in each lens of her glasses, a motif that carries through the film as we follow her history with each man and where it ultimately leads her. The woman’s stoic expression shows the seriousness of the dual between the men reflected in her glasses. To me, this image shows the film's purpose without giving away the entire story, drawing the audience in and making them want to learn more about each character.
Each of these images can elicit an emotion or feeling from its audience. The emotion can be as simple as joy or love or as complex as fear and uncertainty. In design and visual storytelling, remember what story you want viewers to feel when they see the image.
Sources:
Montalto, Mike. “The Four Principles of Visual Storytelling.” Amplifi, 25 Jan. 2024, amplifinp.com/blog/4-principles-visual-storytelling/
