Disqus - Latest Comments for leelefever

Re: Ideas for Videos - Where Do They Originate?

leelefever — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 14:07:35 -0000

Good point. Sometimes there are subjects that we want to cover, but don't fit into a category and we have to consider if we want to develop that category. An example is videos on climate change. One-off videos could be useful, but it's a big change in direction and a big subject to cover.

Re: Blockchain Explained - Now on YouTube and Facebook

leelefever — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 15:51:28 -0000

Thanks! We're happy to help!

Re: Free Webinar: Common Craft Videos - Behind the Scenes

leelefever — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 01:15:11 -0000

Hi Joan! I've sent you an email with some options. Cheers!

Re: Common Craft Videos are Changing - Here's Why

leelefever — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 21:37:33 -0000

That's awesome to hear Greg. I know you've been a fan for years and I hope we can continue to inspire you!

Re: How to Explain YOUR JOB at Thanksgiving Dinner

leelefever — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 19:52:10 -0000

Hah. That's true. I've changed it to be a little more universal. :)

Re: Common Craft Videos are Changing - Here's Why

leelefever — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 13:15:42 -0000

Thanks Andy. I appreciate you being with us.

Re: Common Craft Videos are Changing - Here's Why

leelefever — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 11:47:19 -0000

Thanks so much Martha! It's been on our mind for a long time. We want to keep making videos and this helps.

Re: ExplainerGIFs: What They Are, Why They Matter

leelefever — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 14:29:05 -0000

The playback control thing is an issue. Animated GIFs don't have any way to control playback natively. However, it's fairly simple to add a control that shows up like a video play button, but it has to be done at the platform level. That's what we've been adding to our guides. You can see an example here: http://www.commoncraft.com/...

Re: ExplainerGIFs: What They Are, Why They Matter

leelefever — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 12:02:39 -0000

Thanks Paul. I do imagine GIFs replacing static diagrams. I look at so many of those diagrams now and think that they would be so much more effective if you could see them come together in an animation.

Re: ExplainerGIFs: What They Are, Why They Matter

leelefever — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 19:50:05 -0000

Thanks Steph!

Re: The Book All Technical Writers Should Read – The Art of Explanation by Lee LeFever

leelefever — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 13:14:38 -0000

Thanks so much for the great review Craig!

Re: QR Codes in Books - Do They Work?

leelefever — Wed, 21 May 2014 12:39:11 -0000

Hi Laurie,
I don't know to what extent there are companies that specialize in QR codes. QR codes is simple to create - they're just an image you add to a page. It sounds like you could use the help of a web marketing company and/or someone who specializes in online analytics. The challenge is strategy and optimization.

Re: Small Steps to the Art of Explanation

leelefever — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 19:18:58 -0000

Thanks so much for the interview Richard. It was fun!

Re: Explainer Tip: Writing an Explainer Video Script

leelefever — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:49:00 -0000

Thanks so much for the kind words Anna!

Re: Hints of Big News To Come

leelefever — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 15:09:00 -0000

Hi Seth,
I'm coming in a little late here. Thanks for the interest! We recently announced our new partnership with GoAnimate, which makes it easy for anyone to create Common Craft Style videos using only a website.

http://www.commoncraft.com/...

Cheers!

Re: Trekking in the Clouds at Annapurna Base Camp

leelefever — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 00:56:08 -0000

Wow, great post Alex! Great, useful info artfully presented. It looks like such an adventure. I LOVE that photo in the header.

Re: The Forge – Interview with Lee LeFever of Common Craft

leelefever — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 18:41:51 -0000

Thanks for the fun interview Matt!

Re: SXSW PanelPicker

leelefever — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:44:26 -0000

Thanks Rob! Me too!

Re: Seven life lessons at 40

leelefever — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 12:55:38 -0000

Perfect timing. I turn 40 tomorrow. Thanks for sharing.

Re: Battle-Tested Tips for Effective Explanations

leelefever — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:53:35 -0000

Good point Amarnath. It's one of those ideas that seems so logical - of course you would anticipate questions! But in reality it's probably not considered nearly enough.

When making explainer videos we often try to find those ideas that may cause questions and account for them as much as possible. We look at it this way: it all has make sense. From beginning to end, the idea has to be explained so that the viewer sees not only the "why" and "how", but that it makes logical sense that it works the way it does. It should be as obvious as possible.

When that logic isn't there, when questions have not been anticipated, the questions come. Of course, that's not always a bad thing, but I think, to your point, that anticipating them is key and can become a good way to work through the logic in the original piece.

Thanks for the comment!

Re: Battle-Tested Tips for Effective Explanations

leelefever — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:17:27 -0000

If there is one point that is hard to define clearly, it's #7. Part of the problem is that each situation and audience is different and there is no prescriptive way to know what will sound condescending or respectful for every audience. To your point, I don't think repetition is bad at all.

Here's another way to look at #7. It's easy to assume that explanation means dumbing an idea down so that a maximum number of people can grasp it, including those that may be slower learners. The problem with this approach is that it can come off as patronizing to some.

I like to think about it differently. Explanation is not about dumbing down an idea - it's about transforming it. Great explanations can help audiences at all levels see an idea from a new, more understandable perspective. I want to help the audience build a new mental model for thinking about the idea. It's a creative act.

For example, when we explained Augmented Reality - we took the time to connect the idea to something people are likely to understand, which was the view from a fighter pilot's helmet in a movie. From there, we were able to move the idea onto mobile devices, creating a model for people to understand how augmented reality works in the real world.

http://www.commoncraft.com/...

The hope is that audiences at all levels can appreciate this kind of transformation. It's not dumbed-down or even simpler - it's new and hopefully interesting.

Re: Battle-Tested Tips for Effective Explanations

leelefever — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:54:46 -0000

Good point Brian. We call this the "call to action" and it is essential. When making explainer videos it is particularly important as people can't simply ask for more information. The best explanations can serve to motivate and inspire so you need that next step. Thanks for the reminder.

Re: Battle-Tested Tips for Effective Explanations

leelefever — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:10:38 -0000

Thanks so much Victoria!

Re: Battle-Tested Tips for Effective Explanations

leelefever — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:42:15 -0000

It's true Loraine. I often find that when people explain a new product, for example, they miss an opportunity to use a real-world example of a person who experiences the product or idea and is transformed by it. These little stories have a way of helping the audience to empathize with the person in the example and imagine themselves solving a similar problem in a similar situation.

Re: Battle-Tested Tips for Effective Explanations

leelefever — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:52:27 -0000

Thanks John. Good point. If you've never seen it, I recommend this TED talk by Simon Sinek called "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" It focuses a lot on "why?".
http://www.ted.com/talks/si...