This document outlines a process for using design thinking and comics to tell social justice stories. It suggests forming groups to discuss key elements of a comic like the victim, hero, protagonist, and villain. Templates and examples of storyboards are provided to map out the plot. The document discusses alternatives for those without artistic skills, such as using photo novels or apps to digitally tell stories. Overall it aims to simplify the process of creating comics to promote social justice issues.

1. Making Comics Fast:
Social Justice Storytelling
PF Anderson, pfa@umich.edu / @pfanderson

2. Idea
What if we mashed up DESIGN THINKING and a
simplified COMICS rubric?
Image credit: <https://openclipart.org/detail/181394/radio-announcement>

3. Background 1
DESIGN THINKING is … what?

4. What is design thinking?
<http://dschool.stanfo
rd.edu/dgift/>

5. Background 2
COMICS rubric?

6. What do you mean, “comics rubric”?
Scott McCloud: Understanding
Comics
<http://scottmccloud.com/2-print/1
-uc/>
EdX: The Rise of Superheroes and
Their Impact On Pop Culture:
<https://www.edx.org/course/rise-s
uperheroes-impact-pop-culture-smit
hsonianx-popx1-1x-2>
10 things before you start a comic
<http://www.makingcomics.com/2014/
09/24/10-things-start-comic-graphi
c-novel/>
How to start your own comic
<http://www.instructables.com/id/H
ow-to-Start-Your-Own-Comic-Book/>

7. What’s your social justice issue?

8. … or, in other
words, what’s
your purpose?
On Purpose:
<http://www
.dungbeetle
.org/>
Make Health:
<http://make
health.us/>
(Partner & collaborate: Form
small groups;
Discuss - 5 min)

9. Who’s your victim or survivor?

10. Who’s your victim
or survivor?
Back story
What are their
strengths?
Weaknesses?
What put them at
risk?
Partner & collaborate
(10-15 min)

11. Who’s your hero?

12. Who’s your hero?
Character strengths
Character flaws
Origin storyPartner & collaborate
(10-15 min)

13. Who’s your protagonist?

14. Who’s your
protagonist?
Motivation
Origin story or event
triggerPartner & collaborate
(15-20 min)

15. Who’s your villain or antagonist?

16. Who’s your
villain?
Character strengths
Character flaws
Motivation
Origin story or
symbolism
Partner & collaborate
(10-15 min)

17. What’s your story or plotline or scene?

18. What’s your
story?
Set the scene
Buildup
Conflict
Resolution
Partner & collaborate
(15-20 min)

19. Pull it all together!

20. Templates
SUPERHERO BLANK TEMPLATES
Heromachine <http://www.heromachine.com/> |
<http://www.heromachine.com/2008/01/27/free-blank-figure-templates/>
JufsAnne:
<http://www.jufsanne.com/kinderboekenweek/2011/kinderboekenweek2011downloads.html>
STORYBOARD BLANK TEMPLATE
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a7QS9BEnPxPlNQRlf9YBfnefS0e5PbEz6MZ3vGLYh34/e
dit?usp=sharing>

21. Storyboard Blank
DESCRIPTION Action in Frame (Hero) Action in Frame (Villain)

22. Storyboard
Example

23. Storyboard to
Comic
(the process changes the
story)
Patricia F. Anderson, PhD, Elise Wescom, BFA, Ruth C. Carlos, MD, MS.
Difficult Doctors, Difficult Patients: Building Empathy. JACR 13(12)Pt
B:1590–1598. <http://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(16)30917-6/pdf>

24. Next steps

25. Alternatives to being an artist
UNESCO: How to create and publish a photonovel
<http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001821
/182121E.pdf>
ETechLib: Cheap and Easy Ways to Make Comics or
Cartoons for Digital Storytelling
<https://etechlib.wordpress.com/2013/05/14/ch
eap-and-easy-ways-to-make-comics-or-carto
ons-for-digital-storytelling/>

26. Alternatives to being an artist
Apps!

27. Contacts
PF Anderson / @pfanderson / <pfa@umich.edu>