Behind Any Mask This Week, Inspiration for a Story
As communicators in higher education, we're in the inspiration business.
We jump out of bed each morning to create touch points that spark action: A billboard that might capture the fleeting attention of a high school junior or senior. An email campaign that somehow stands out amidst the flood in our graduates' inboxes to stay connected. A personally crafted letter of gratitude.
All of it is focused on promoting a better future.
And so while most times, the stories we tell are happy ones — of a first-generation student earning her diploma, hard-working scholarship recipients meeting donors or new buildings changing the landscape of campus — inspiration often comes just as powerfully from other emotions and situations. (You know, the not-so-happy ones.)
In a recent column for Communication Arts, photographer Lindsay Siu hit on this idea really well as she talked about developing her sense of visual storytelling:
"As much as I am drawn to the visual, I love good stories. And sad songs. And clever jokes. I’m really inspired by people and learning about their experiences in the world. The goal in advertising and conceptual work is to express an idea, story or emotion clearly and quickly, and as the photographer or director, it’s my job to bring it to life."
There's a wide range of impressions you could take just from those few sentences. Personally, I thought of Halloween: All the masks and costumes, each with their own story. Some fantastical or scary. Some funny. Some sad.
But all worth telling.
About Me
I’m a freelance partner for small business, higher education and nonprofits with more than 20 years of award-winning experience in marketing, writing, design and strategy. Proud graduate of The University of Toledo and Michigan State University.