While whimsical, playful and optimistic, Studio Ghibli teaches us that visual storytelling is most powerful when it feels familiar, sincere, and purposeful.

As I watched Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron, I admired the quality of the drawings and the stories, as I always do. But feeling inspired, I also scribbled down some ideas about visual storytelling that I’m going to share with you now, to help boost your next project.

During the last day of my online workshop, held while I was in Japan, I found myself asking questions about how we can influence others’ opinions and beliefs. The answers were waiting for me in Hiroshima, in that I saw how thoughtful storytelling presents ideas that resonate, inspire, and drive change. From this experience, three key lessons emerge for effective storytelling in design presentations.

This issue focuses on wrestler Dump Matsumoto and explores her remarkable rise to fame. It wasn't solely due to her uniqueness; it was also about understanding key storytelling elements such as character arcs, the creation of a hook, and the power of contrast.