IDEO U Video Description: What can we learn from master storytellers Pixar about​ telling your story?

We often say at IDEO U that every innovation begins as a story. In order to get your people to come along with you on a journey, it’s imperative to craft the narrative that will resonate with your audience.

Join IDEO U and special guest Andrew Gordon of Pixar on Thursday, June 30th at 9 AM PST for a short 45-minute hangout on storytelling and the upcoming online course, Storytelling for Influence (http://ideo.to/cgf3pg).

This course can be taken as an individual, but it is also designed to support teams. Coe, Andrew, and Jenn (bios below) will share stories and discuss tactics from the IDEO U course to help you exercise your skills as a storyteller.

There will be an audience Q&A session following the discussion on storytelling.

This hangout is part of the IDEO U Creative Confidence Series.

On the hangout:

Andrew Gordon (Special Guest)
Andrew Gordon has been animating characters professionally for over 20 years. He joined Pixar Animation Studios in 1997 where he has animated on A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2 and 3, Monsters Inc, Monster U, Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, The Incredibles and Ratatouille among others.  
 
Andrew has been teaching animation/storytelling classes since 2000, helping develop and lead the Pixar animation internship 4 times. He co founded The Animation Collaborative, and helped start the CCA animation program. He has lectured throughout the world on Animation, Story and Character. He is currently the director of the Hollywood Animation Program for the One Academy. Andrew also teaches Story/Character workshops for businesses, working with such clients to help them tell better stories.
 
Jenn Maer
Jenn’s career as a storyteller began at age seven when she penned (well, actually, penciled) her first novel—a 75-page, double-spaced, spiral notebook tour de force entitled “Shark!”

Since then, she’s worked as an agency Account Planner, Copywriter and Associate Creative Director. She’s helped tell the stories of clients like HP, Oregon Chai, Microsoft, Red Envelope, and Snapple. Her writing has been recognized by The One Show, Clios, and others.

As a Design Director at IDEO, Jenn led brand strategy and storytelling work with an equally diverse group of IDEO clients, including Marriott, Mattel, ConAgra, and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.

Coe Leta Stafford
Coe is the Sr. Design Director for IDEO U learning experience. In her previous role as IDEO’s Global Design Director for Insights, Coe made certain that IDEO’s methodologies are on the cutting edge, making them more digital, data rich and playful. She’s led numerous teams and clients through the Design Research process to understand people’s needs, reveal insights, and inspire innovative solutions.

Coe’s work has won several international awards and her work has been featured in the New York Times and Wired. She has a Ph.D. in Cognition and Development from U.C. Berkeley and regularly teaches at Stanford University’s d.School.