Three ways using visuals to show building expansion

360º Panoramic

If you are engaging your audience online then one of the coolest ways to show a space is with the 360º Panoramic. Put your mouse in the photo click on it and drag it around and you can get the feel of standing in the room and turning around to see the space as if you are there.

That same interactive 360º panoramic can also be output to just a still image, but I think most people are not quite grasping what this is as compared to the interactive version, but it does give you documentation of the space.

The traditional still photograph

This single wide-angle image of the classroom being used really gives the viewer the feel to how the room is being used.

It gives you a slice of the room in a moment in time. However, you can use a series of photos from the classroom to help give a more complete story of the usage.

Small groups in the classroom using technology at the desk with also larger monitors to share what one person has on their device with the group.

Here you can see the groups in discussions with the instructor moving through the space to check in on each group. The space is large enough that the group discussions are possible without interfering with each other.

You can see here that the student is sharing with the classroom and using a microphone to be sure everyone present can here what is going on.  They also can use video in the classroom to create live classrooms online for those around the world to participate.

Video


Just a quick clip can help communicate the space to your audience.


Where video is at it's best is when you are wanting to lead your audience through the message. Here in this clip I am able to tell a more complete story about the expansion of the IMPACT 360 gap year program that is in Pine Mountain, GA.

Which one is best?

Too often people think more about "either/or" rather than "and." The answer to this question lies within the strategy of your plan. If you do not have a strategy then you are more prone to make a major mistake.

For example had I only done a video then the organization would have nothing to use in their printed newsletter they send out to all their supporters.

Had I just done the panoramic interactive, I would have something online and as you can see the stretched still image that could be used in the printed piece.

What about doing it all every once in a while for those big projects where you will use the stills, the interactive panoramic and the video to help engage your audiences in many different spaces?

I do contend that today too often the still image is overlooked for video. Video appears to be more sexy and cool. However, I believe that the base from which all visual communications of a project similar to this must contain the still image.  Even NPR realizes the power of the still image and importance in their online packages.

They took away the video cameras to train their people on how to make strong still images. Why do this? Just go to their website at http://www.npr.org/ and notice how they use the still image as the place to start. Before you click on any video online it usually has a place holder of a still image. If that still image isn't engaging then you have most likely wasted all that money on a video that few will see except those who already would watch it regardless.

Remind yourself to not be trapped into thinking "either/or," but rather think "and" when choosing a medium for your audience.