Live-action Communication Design: A Technical How-To Video Case Study

ABSTRACT

This case study is based on a research through design project (RTD) that focuses on a technical communication video of the live-action format. It investigates the usability and design-implications of a live-action how-to video, by means of analyzing user-centered data such as YouTube analytics data, usability, and comprehension assessments. In the study, four key live-action video affordances are identified: verifiability, comparability, recordability, and visibility. The identification of these affordances when related to the users’ assessments resulted in several design implementations that would warrant sought-for communication efficacies. Findings show that some assumed efficacies appear to be mitigated by the complexity and the density of the video information. One implication of this is that the implementation of conventional video editing techniques and the addition of on-screen text that serve to make content briefer and more concise into instructional live-action videos requires the technical communicator’s careful consideration.

KEYWORDS:

• Assessment
• design of communication
• digital technologies
• knowledge management
• research methods
• usability studies
• visual rhetoric/visualization techniques

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. As of March 2018, the video can be accessed via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqOnH7QZPHw&t=320s.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Per Erik Eriksson

Per Erik Eriksson is the program director of Short Story Audiovisual Design at Dalarna University, Sweden. He is a former TV producer and videographer with a special interest in various instructional video/TV formats. He has an MA in Communication from Stanford University (2003) and a PhD (2018) from Mälardalen University, Sweden, in the research field of innovation, design and engineering.

Yvonne Eriksson

Yvonne Eriksson is professor and vice dean of School of Innovation, Design and Engineering at Mälardalen University, Sweden. She is also the chair of the Information Design Research group and head of MDH Living Lab@IPR. The main interest for her research is communication between individuals and groups in complex organizations. Focus for her research is visual communication and visual management and how the relation between the perceptual and cognitive processes that are involved in interpretation of visuals and build milieus are informed by cultural context and heritage.