"Reimagining Alt" was a presentation given by Alexa Schirtzinger at the 2014 Association for Alternative Newsmedia Digital Conference in San Francisco. These slides accompanied a "design project" tailored to an alternative weekly publication audience.
9. “What does alternative mean?”
“We haven’t thought about it in our
building, and we haven’t
communicated it outside our
building.”
10. what we dowho we are
print or digital?
display or classified?
events or services?
listings or picks?
“cool”
“local”
“sense of humor”
“trusted journalism”
“no sacred cows”
“making a difference”
“irreverent”
“We’re getting away from what we’re actually good at.”
11. “We have such a great position in the
community. It’s just a question of
how to leverage it.”
12. In the competition for readers and advertisers...
...how can alt-weeklies find a niche?
13. How might we leverage
who we are
to inform
what we do?
21. Hear a good story
Ask your partner for stories that illustrate
the value of his/her publication to its community
YOUR NOTES/SKETCHES
4 min each
1 Interview your partner
Start from the publication, then get personal
2 Dig deeper into one story
Why? Why not?
YOUR NOTES/SKETCHES
3 min each
22. ...a time she felt proud of her paper
...a time she learned something new or
surprising from a reader
...a time she had to deal with an advertiser
who was happy—or angry
Ask your partner about...
23. Hear a good story
Ask your partner for stories that illustrate
the value of his/her publication to its community
YOUR NOTES/SKETCHES
4 min each
1 Interview your partner
Start from the publication, then get personal
2 Dig deeper into one story
Why? Why not?
YOUR NOTES/SKETCHES
3 min each
25. What does it mean?
Gain insights by imagining the deeper meaning behind what you heard.
Your goal is to take an extreme, inspired stance. Have fun with it!
Imagine possibilities for the following statements:
It’s interesting/surprising/telling that s/he…
One thing that seems to be important to him/her is…
I wonder if this means…
4 min
3 Imagine the meaning
Notice something, then infer what’s behind it.
4 Create brainstorm topics
Flip your insights into questions.
How might we...
How might we...
How might we...
3 min
26. What does it mean?
Gain insights by imagining the deeper meaning behind what you heard.
Your goal is to take an extreme, inspired stance. Have fun with it!
Imagine possibilities for the following statements:
It’s interesting/surprising/telling that s/he…
One thing that seems to be important to him/her is…
I wonder if this means…
4 min
3 Imagine the meaning
Notice something, then infer what’s behind it.
4 Create brainstorm topics
Flip your insights into questions.
How might we...
How might we...
How might we...
3 min
29. New ideas!
Generate a diverse set of concepts in response to brainstorm questions.
Your goal is to build on the ideas of others.
YOUR NOTES/SKETCHES
5 min per person
5 Share your work, then brainstorm as a team
Recap one story, share one inference and your brainstorm question—then lead a brainstorm.
30.
31. Sketch it out
Pick an idea and develop it in detail.
Your goal is to flesh out the idea and make it visual.
YOUR NOTES/SKETCHES
3 min
6 Choose one idea and flesh it out into a product or service
What is it? How does one use it?
36. Let’s get physical, physical
Let me hear your body talk!
Your goal is to test your solution by making it tangible.
7 min
7 Build your solution
Remember: it doesn’t have to be perfect!
8 Test your results
Elicit meaningful feedback.
What’s working? What can be improved?
New questions New ideas
4 min each
? !