Common Craft Blog
Why Paperworks: All About Constraints
By leelefever on June 24, 2007 - 4:58pm
Since our first couple of videos came out, I've been talking to a lot of people about what makes the Paperworks format work. Aside from the content/message, I often say that a set of constraints is what makes the format a great fit for our goals.
In this case, a "constraint" is a rule that we have decided not to break in making our videos.
Examples: We only use certain materials (paper, whiteboard, markers, string), we won't make a video over 4 minutes long, we only use our hands to tell the story and we don't use any external music (just humming, snaps, claps, etc.). Further, everything we make in the format is 100% copyright infringement free. These are the Paperworks constraints and they have a huge impact.
You might think that having constraints is limiting, but I think the opposite. Constraints are liberating. By narrowing the scope of possibilities down to only a few ways to present ideas, we can eliminate needless decision making and complexity.
Consider these examples:
Materials: By limiting ourselves to paper, markers and a whiteboard, we don't have to think about all the things we *could* do with flash animation, 3D, focus, perspective and the like. Our materials, while limited, keep us lightweight and simple.
Time: By limiting the video's possible length to 4 minutes, we limit ourselves to major points. We don't sweat the small stuff.
Hands: By using only our hands, we don't have to think about clothes, hair, make-up or even facial expressions.
Music: By not using external music, we don't have to pick the right song or worry about being sued.
The Lesson: The lesson is that constraints work to limit the number and depth of decisions we have to make. By eliminating the decisions about technology, presentation, music, etc. we have time to focus on the core of what makes Paperworks work: the ideas.
The essence of the Paperworks format is simplicity - bringing down the bar of technology and presentation to it's most basic level. By doing away with fancy graphic and soundtrack options, we can make room to think more deeply about the idea and concept that will convey the message in the simplest way we can. Further, it's a format almost everyone can use - it's not limited by complex technologies.
A Bit of Inspiration: If you haven't read The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz, I recommend picking it up. It made me think about the hidden dangers of having too many options. Another inspiring book is Made To Stick by Chip and Dan Heath, which I reviewed briefly here.
Thank You
Thank you for posting this. You've made me think about how we get caught up in the possibilities that actually take us away from the initial message we were trying to deliver. As a teacher integrating technology you've given a lot for me to reflect on before the next school year begins.
If you could sum up Education in Plain English within a 4 minute video I'd be really impressed and ask you to send a copy of it any and all elected officials.
Ready for spoofs?
Your videos are so refreshingly simple. I love them. Just waiting until the spoofs start rolling in. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? And you've set the barrier to entry pretty low. Maybe we'll see "How to be a Spam King in Plain English" or "Phishing for Fun and Profit in Plain English"...
paperworks 2.0
I love how wikis in plain english introduced animated paper (the flying envelopes). Can't wait to see what you come up with for the next edition: aka paperworks 3.0.
Two words for 3.0
flying hearts.
It makes sense now
Thought I had missed an inside joke last week...
KISS
Your videos pass the Mom test in that I could show them to my Mom and she would get RSS. No easy feat!
As a Geek I often find myself wanting to use the latest technology and after futzing around for an hour wind up saying to myself why am I trying to use a Lamborghini to drive across the street? Your videos are the perfect example of less is more.
Thank You!
Thanks folks!
Your kind words mean a lot. The next show is coming to Internets near you very soon.
I love it. It's too easy to
I love it. It's too easy to get wrapped up in the options and even more so to dream up far fetched options that develop into "I can't do it because I can't do it this way or that... " Or I'd lose weight if I just had a gym membership or if I only had the big TV I'd be happier.
In particular I like that your constraints don't limit content or topics. I do however suggest you add one more production element to your toolbox...
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Hi
Hi mans, By limiting the video - I like this.
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