Universal Principles of Storytelling for Designers

About the Author

I am a storyteller and a designer—two roles that are deeply intertwined. Stories ignite design, and design inspires new stories, creating a continuous cycle that propels human progress and innovation.

The story/design connection became an “aha” moment during my undergraduate days at Hofstra University, where I shuffled between theatre, design, and anthropology, three disciplines that seemed to join forces effortlessly. My storytelling and design journey deepened at the American Film Institute’s Center for Advanced Film Studies, where theory became practice, and I discovered a passion for designing the silent protagonist of every story— the Mise en Scène (principle 52). I spent time in Hollywood as an art director, crafting theatrical ...