Storytelling: The Key that Unlocks a Successful Immersive Experience
What was the first book you read that completely took you to a whole new world? I bet right now; you are picturing the exact world it took you to. Emotion and memories go hand in hand. You may not remember where you were reading that book, but you remember the way it made you feel.
An immersive experience should have the same effect on the audience as a good book has on the reader. There is an abundance of elements that can make, or break, an immersive experience. Your goal as a creator, is to ensure the user stays engaged in every aspect from start to finish.
Storytelling in an Environment
A façade is just a façade until there is context behind it. Your craftsmanship can go above and beyond, but if there is no theatrical flow to the design, the user is left with a nice impression but not a lasting memory. Storytelling helps captivate the audience by attaching emotion to the physical objects around them, therefor leaving a longer lasting impression. The good news is that most of your story doesn’t need to be explicit but can be hinted at in the details of your work. Details such as, setting, mood and theme can all be conveyed by the environment.
Attention to Detail
A good immersive experience, just like a book, is only as good as the details that go into it. The last thing the audience wants is to be pulled out of the world from a lack of attention to detail. Elements that unintentionally bring the user out of the experience could be overly visible seams in the environment, being able to see original structures, or even noise pollution. While some of these elements are out of the creator’s control, it’s important to dedicate efforts to perfecting the elements that are in your control. Are you building an escape room in a busy shopping mall? Maybe it’s worth investing in sound proofing for the rooms so that the user isn’t distracted by exterior noise. Are you theming an Old Western exhibit for a museum? Perhaps consider covering their current light fixtures with something reminiscent of the time period. The more you play around with the details in your experience, the more you can elaborate on the elements that keep the audience within the story.
Interactive Elements
Now that you have your story and details developed, it’s time to elevate your environment by incorporating elements that engage the users’ senses. Now, you might not want people tasting your environment like Willy Wonka’s lickable wallpaper, but encouraging the user to wonder in their senses unlocks your interactive storytelling. Now, not only is the audience experiencing your story, they become a part of it. Interaction or touch points can elaborate on the lure surrounding your environment by feeding back into the story. A great example of this is Disney World’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad line. Throughout the wait to get on the exciting coaster, there are multiple touch points that not only serve the purpose of relieving boredom but help immerse the audience by making them feel as though they’re stepping right into the mines.
Disney World's Big Thunder Mountain, Touch Point within the ride's line
