Graphic Novel E-Reader
Interactive Flash Prototype
With the recent news of e-readers selling more than books on amazon.com last year, our brief for this project was to create an e-reader interaction that appealed to graphic novels.
My chosen graphic novel to work with was the tale of Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson. This particular novel is close to my heart because my father, Ronald Grosset was largely responsible for the adaptation of the original book being brought to graphic novel format. As a Kidnapped fan, he was also able to give me vital feedback as I developed the prototype.
I based the prototype on the recently launched Apple iPad. I believe with the already booming success of iTunes as a marketplace, Apple have a massive advantage with the e-reader market. The iPad also has fantastic graphic capabilities and touch screen interaction that work well with the project.
The interaction focuses on simple interactions and the user experience. The flash prototype is designed to make the user feel like they are actually using an iPad. The user can slide left or right to move from frame to frame, rather than page to page. This is the first major difference from the graphic novel paper format. Subtle animations within the content occur as the user reaches the next frame. This further engages the user into the story. For example, a wave gently rolling in to the beach adds to the feeling of being washed up on the shore.
