Wave Power Carousel
Instagram carousel concept for ACET (UVic) turning a dense story into a five-panel narrative people can scan.
Design Goal
Create a communication format that allows complex research to be understood quickly without sacrificing credibility.
• Make content scannable for fast-moving social audiences
• Preserve accuracy while simplifying complex information
• Deliver a complete narrative within a five-panel format
Problem
Communicating complex ocean energy research requires balancing clarity with credibility under tight attention constraints.
• Research stories are dense and need context to understand
• Social audiences scroll quickly and often skip long-form content
• Oversimplification risks lowering credibility and trust.
Key Product Decisions
Decision 1: Structure the story into a clear narrative arc
• Each panel delivers one idea and advances the story
• Sequence follows: hook → stakes → problem → solution → outcome
• Information is ordered to guide understanding without requiring prior context
Reasoning:
A clear narrative structure allows complex information to be understood quickly while maintaining coherence across panels.
Decision 2: Balance clarity with credibility
• Claims are written conservatively to avoid hype
• Language reflects research-backed tone and institutional voice
• Visual and textual cues reinforce legitimacy
Reasoning:
Oversimplification can reduce trust, so clarity must be achieved without weakening perceived credibility.
Decision 3: Design for fast scanning on mobile
• Short headlines and minimal copy per panel
• Strong hierarchy directs attention to key information
• Consistent visual system reduces cognitive load
Reasoning:
Social audiences consume content quickly, so the design makes information clear within seconds.
Result
This system translates dense research into a structured five-panel narrative that is understood quickly while maintaining clarity and credibility.
Concept project
Role
Communications Design
Deliverables
Instagram carousel screens
Focus
Five-panel narrative
Core Flows
Goal: Make complex information understandable at a glance.
Panel 1: Hook
Captures attention immediately and signals the topic.
Panel 2: Stakes
Explains why the problem matters in a real-world context.
Panel 3: Problem
Clarifies the challenge that needs to be addressed.
Panel 4: Solution
Introduces how the problem is being solved.
Delivers a clear takeaway that completes the narrative.
Panel 5: Outcome
Outcome
The final system turns complex research into a format that can be understood quickly without losing credibility.
• Complex information structured into a clear five-panel narrative that is easy to follow
• Content designed for fast scanning while maintaining accuracy and institutional tone
• A reusable communication system that supports consistent messaging across topics and platforms
What I would improve next
• Test different narrative structures to see how variations affect engagement and comprehension
• Introduce light interactivity to allow users to explore deeper layers of information
• Measure performance across platforms to refine clarity, tone, and content hierarchy