storyfirst

Storyfirst is a design and communication framework that prioritizes narrative as the guiding structure for creating products, media, and experiences. In a storyfirst approach, a central core story or narrative arc is identified at the outset and used to shape features, interfaces, content, and messaging. The aim is to ensure coherence across channels by aligning decisions with the intended emotional journey and user outcomes.

Origin and usage: The term has appeared in discussions among UX designers, content strategists, and marketing professionals since the 2010s, drawing on the broader practice of narrative design. It is applied in software development to frame user stories around outcomes, in branding to craft a consistent brand narrative, and in education or media production to structure curricula and scripts.

Principles: Define a central story and key characters or personas; map the user journey as a narrative arc with goals, conflicts, and resolutions; design interactions and content to advance the story; maintain tonal and thematic consistency; test the narrative with audiences and refine accordingly.

Practices: story briefs, narrative personas, storyboard workflows, content matrices aligned to milestones, and prototype testing that evaluates narrative comprehension as well as usability.

Criticism: Critics argue that a strong emphasis on narrative can overshadow usability, measurable outcomes, or accessibility, and that stories are subjective or culturally contingent.

See also: narrative design, storytelling, user-centered design, content strategy.