Universal Principles of Storytelling for Designers

Methods/Tools

Hitchcock’s Rules of Visual Storytelling

Three rules to live by when telling visual stories.

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Rule One: Start with a sweeping establishing shot or statement to set the scene. This instantly orients your audience, providing context before introducing the characters and other expository elements.

Rule Two: Direct the audience, not the actors. Director Alfred Hitchcock’s approach favored visual storytelling over excessive dialogue. Shoot every scene, and use imagery with the audience’s perspective in mind, using the camera as their eyes. This technique empowers you to control emotions and engage viewers on a higher emotional ...