Summary
Video can be so much more than just a presentation aid and a way to engage stakeholders; it can also be a means to explore, understand, and convey deep human truths. Through the lens of documentary filmmakers and visual ethnographers, film can be a powerful medium with which to capture context and emotion, and tell nuanced stories. In this fireside chat with three design researchers who have extensive experience working with video and documentary techniques, you will hear how they integrate documentary filmmaking approaches and methods into their research practices.
Key Insights
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Video in design research is often secondary, but documentary film practices reveal its potential as a critical storytelling and analysis tool.
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Charlie’s ‘Future of Fish’ project showed using video to capture entire ecosystems helps teams synthesize complex information collaboratively.
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The 'fly on the wall' notion in observational filming is a myth; interaction with participants enriches authenticity and insight.
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Collaborating with participants, such as through scripting video diaries or house tours, reveals deeper contextual truths beyond interviews.
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Material culture—objects and environments around people—plays a key role in visual research storytelling.
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Remote and hybrid work expands possibilities for autoethnographic video where participants record themselves with guided prompts.
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Multi-tiered video deliverables—highlight clips plus longer contextual films—serve different stakeholder needs effectively.
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Good storytelling in video helps insights travel and influence organizational understanding beyond raw data sharing.
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Organizing video clips collaboratively on tools like Reduct’s Video Board enhances interpretation and team alignment.
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Researchers must balance participant self-representation and stakeholder expectations to maintain authentic, impactful stories.
Notable Quotes
"Film is not just a way to capture information, it's a way to think about information."
"The idea of fly on the wall is a myth from the 1960s—actually, interacting with people is much more valuable."
"I want authentic relationships with the people I'm working with, not just observational footage like a security camera."
"We answer things differently when we're sitting down facing the camera than when we're living life doing activities."
"People are much more sophisticated now in representing themselves because of social media and ubiquitous cameras."
"A great story travels through an organization more freely than just data or facts."
"If the story connects to what really moves people—like care or motivation—it can drive meaningful sharing and impact."
"Making films collaboratively with participants, sometimes even giving them scripts, enhances the depth of stories."
"Multi-tiered video deliverables allow audiences to engage at different depths, improving impact and understanding."
"Organizing and tagging video collaboratively is essential to interpretation and collective insight generation."
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