Over a decade ago, I worked with Meridian (formerly Meridian Kiosk) in revamping their branding and marketing for their flagship products, and spent a few months supporting their efforts with a new product they had in the works called ‘spout’. Along with the cool whale logo I gave them with the sputtering bits – I also produced a few storyboard concepts for how the product could be used. The use of a comic paneled storyboard is a fantastic way to convey a sequence and help people envision an idea that could otherwise remain ambiguous and difficult to understand. This morning, I decided to revisit that old project from the archives and see if this concept could be easily reproduced (and maybe even enhanced) using generative AI. This first image is of the original storyboard concept created for the client.
The first thing I did was type up the copy from the original one-sided document with a description of each panel, and the copy found on each panel. I took this into Chat-GPT, led with the following:
I have a 10-panel layout for a storyboard that explains the customer use process for using a tool called SPOUT. SPOUT is an app that is triggered by a QR Code scan with an integrated phone app that delivers modifiable information (like mobile website) with embedded images, text, videos. It could expand the experience for consumers in multiple situations. This 10-panel scenario is just one. I want to share it with you, and then, (1) I want you to review the concept and refine the storyboard copy and (2) I want you to provide other concepts where SPOUT could be used. Does this make sense?
Brian Sykes
With the go-ahead from C-GPT, I copy-pasted the write up with descriptions. C-GPT responded with –
Great! Here are the refined storyboard panel copies:
Panel 1:
Image: ...
Copy: ...I used the Image descriptions to craft my prompts for Midjourey, and used the ‘Copy’ to drop text on top of the images that I laid out in ComicLife. Beginning to end, this process took a smidge over an hour to do.
Generative AI – changes the game. My original concept board was fast pen and ink doodles with watercolor washes that I dropped copy over in Adobe Illustrator – 10 years ago. Even that fast storied solution came up short to the possibilities this solution today could present… even without refining the images in Adobe Photoshop and with using an off-the-shelf comic creator to lay things out. Don’t think of storyboards and comic panels as just for comics and graphic novels. This is an excellent tactic for bringing clients and target audiences up to speed on products and ideas.
A.I. Explore with Brian Sykes
This is a copy-paste of the Chat-GPT response I used to craft the revised storyboard.
Great! Here are the refined storyboard panel copies:
Panel 1: Image: A focused shot of a hotel room, featuring a bedside table with a phone, lamp, room key, and a sleek photo display containing a printed SPOUT QR code. Copy: “Discover SPOUT, a game-changing hotel experience tool. Ever found your hotel room below par upon check-in?…”
Panel 2: Image: A close-up of a phone capturing the QR code through the SPOUT app. Copy: “Simply scan the readily available SPOUT code to share your thoughts – a user-friendly, ad-free experience at your fingertips…”
Panel 3: Image: A detailed view of the guest’s comment and room rating. Copy: “Instantly rate your room and provide valuable feedback through the app.”
Panel 4: Image: A laptop screen showing the room number along with the guest’s notification. Copy: “Low ratings alert the hotel staff immediately, ensuring your concerns are addressed promptly, while valuable insights are compiled for future improvements.”
Panel 5: Image: Hotel manager engaged in a phone conversation. Copy: “The proactive hotel manager gets in touch, putting corrective measures into action.”
Panel 6: Image: The guest having a conversation on the phone with the hotel manager. Copy: “Guests are reassured knowing their voices are heard and problems are being tackled. Quick resolution via the app decreases chances of public negative feedback, safeguarding the hotel’s reputation.”
Panel 7: Image: A mobile cleaning station moving down the hotel corridor. Copy: “Swift actions are taken to fix the issue…”
Panel 8: Image: A toilet being meticulously cleaned. Copy: “… Ensuring every detail is addressed…”
Panel 9: Image: A glistening, spotless bathroom. Copy: “… Achieving an end-result that exceeds guest expectations…”
Panel 10: Image: A close-up of a stellar 10-star rating and rave review from the guest. Copy: “… Resulting in delighted guests and a thriving hotel reputation. With SPOUT, connection and satisfaction are just a scan away.”
For other concepts where SPOUT could be used:
- Restaurant Experience: Guests could use SPOUT to provide immediate feedback on their meals or the service they received. Restaurant owners could respond in real-time, offering to rectify the situation if the experience was less than perfect.
- Retail Shopping: Shoppers could use SPOUT to rate and review the products they purchased. Retailers could then respond to these reviews, engage with customers, and improve their offerings.
- Public Transportation: Commuters could use SPOUT to rate their journey and provide feedback on cleanliness, punctuality, and service quality. Transportation authorities could monitor this feedback and make improvements accordingly.
- Conference/Event Feedback: Participants could use SPOUT to rate different sessions, speakers, or the event overall, providing organizers with immediate feedback for real-time adjustments or future planning.
- Tourist Attractions: Visitors could use SPOUT to provide instant feedback on their experience at museums, parks, zoos, etc. Management could use this data to improve their offerings and respond to any issues.