Seen To Be Heard: Designing Visual Feedback in Locative Narrative Apps

Locative narrative works — recorded narratives designed to be experienced within specified locations — tend towards the aural. This provides such works with the unique ability to overlay everyday places with invisible fictions. Differing methods of delivery have been explored in the past; cassette walkman, mp3 player, PDA, mobile voicemail, each with an emphasis on listening. Yet the apparent opportunities offered by the smartphone touchscreen present a new challenge to the form. How should one go about crafting a visual interface for a predominantly sound-based experience? Should one even try? This presentation will analyse the design processes undertaken during the development of The Letters, a locative narrative iPhone app based on material from the Dartington Hall archive. By recounting the visual decision-making journey, it will attempt to show how on-screen representation can support the aural story experience without detracting from it.