Just Story It

By now you’ve surely gotten the memo: Storytelling is 'it' in business and communication today. But places can, and do, tell stories, too."

This is a great article because it is one of those pieces that continues to expand our notion of storytelling and how to apply its principles for more meaningful and richer experiences in our lives.

In this case, how story dynamics shape our physical environment.  I know I've talked about this before and curated at least one other article about this.  As one trained in researching and analyzing built environments (vernacular architecture and cultural landscapes), I've known for decades how our mental and social constructs show up as expressions in the buildings and spaces around us.

If we are hard-wired for stories, think in stories, and language in stories, then it makes perfect sense that we build storied environments.  Walt Disney knew this and consciously designed his themepark as storied spaces that we move through.  The best architects and city/landscape designers know this.  Yet all too often we are confronted with buildings and landscapes with no soul.  That's a major bummer because those places/spaces do not enliven us, but diminish us in some way.

OK -- off my soap box.  Read this short but meaty article about storytelling and workplace design.  Then cross your fingers people start paying attention and start designing different kinds of spaces for us!