Youtrain Video Manual Youtrain Manual EBOOK | Page 48

Coline Robin, illustrator / graphic facilitator
I learnt that more than ever, when you work in a big team, drawing is not a decoration
but it can become an efficient and aligning way of communicating. As we started
to plan video tutorials which involved more illustrations, I drew simple storyboards to
understand better the flow of the video. They ended up being really helpful for the
whole team from the editors to the animator. They served as a basis for conversation
to share our different views on the video and also as a reminder of our collective
agreements. Never underestimate the power of a simple drawing!
MarCus Vrecer, trainer
To bring in an additional perspective, as coordinator of the project I was of course
also concerned that our processes and workflow in the video production are efficient,
and that our products meet the real needs and preferences of our target groups.
What I consider useful when developing and producing several videos of a similar
set or series (like we did in YouTrain) is the following approach:
• Prototype and experiment first, do not go straight into producing your final
videos but play around and produce possible prototypes first (at least one, better
several different ones)
• Collect as much relevant feedback on your different prototypes as possible
• Based on the feedback and lessons learnt from the prototypes, produce one
clear template (aka ideal prototype) for all further videos to be produced. In general,
as much as possible, use templates and standardized processes.
• Make sure your template (ideal prototype) is “waterproof” and does not need
modifications at a later stage of the production. To introduce global changes when
you have already produced a set of videos (“let’s just change the overall intro”, “let’s
just use another font”) is costly (time, money, motivation) to implement.
• Based on your template, produce your set of videos. Make sure the scripts
for the videos are peer reviewed. Once produced your set of videos, go for hard
feedback from the potential target groups again. Better to get hard feedback and
learn at this stage, then after final publication!
• Analyse and implement the feedback and use again peer review to produce
the final videos.
• Have a clear plan for dissemination beforehand and go public loudly and
proudly. What’s the use of a perfect product when the target group does not know
about it :-)
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