In this masterclass at Elev8 2025, gen.E founders Fehmi and Srishti, journalists, walk us through a transformative workshop on storytelling. In this session, they break down how storytelling can be a powerful tool to raise environmental awareness and drive real-world change. Delve into learn the art of connecting emotionally with audiences.

The session focused on empowering creatives to effectively tell stories about their work, build emotional connections, and contextualise their design decisions using storytelling. Through detailed case studies of gen.E videos, they revealed the principles, processes, and challenges behind crafting high-impact short videos.

Key Insights from the Masterclass

1. Why Architects Should Tell Stories

• Designs gain soul through storytelling.
  
• Storytelling creates an emotional bridge between the designer, user, and space.
  
• Iconic buildings like the Taj Mahal or Mysore Palace live on in public memory due to powerful stories associated with them.
  
• A good story adds contextual meaning and explains design decisions, challenges, and intentions behind a project.
  
• Stories can lead to brand recall, influence public perception, and even result in real-world impact.
  

2. Gen.E and Their 6+1 Step Storytelling Process 

1. Research – The foundation. Beyond technical data, focus on human insights that aren’t on websites or PDFs.
   
2. Scriptwriting – Keep it conversational, visual, and simple. Aim for one thought per sentence and build a natural flow.
   
3. Shoot – Plan every shot. Anticipate challenges (e.g., need for drones in architecture shoots). Think visually and adapt creatively.
   
4. Edit – Editing should support, not overpower, the story. Avoid distractions; aim for clarity and fluidity.
   
5. Branding – Consistency in visuals (fonts, colors, thumbnails) helps build audience recognition and loyalty.
   
6. Publish – Stick to a schedule. One good video a week can outperform volume. Optimize thumbnails, captions, and SEO.
   
7. Track (Bonus) – Analyze performance to refine strategy. Engagement insights help fine-tune future content.
   

3. Final Creator Cheat Sheet: Tips for Architects and Designers from Gen.E

• Use your naturally visual work to your advantage. Before-and-after videos, site walkthroughs, or sketch-to-built journeys make for powerful content.
  
• Keep it human. Make people the heroes, whether it’s a craftsman, a client, or a community.
  
• Be consistent, authentic, and simple. Talk like you would to a friend.
  
• Make the local, relatable. Use local language or cultural cues to make stories resonate with regional audiences.

Conclusion

Through a compelling blend of experience, structure, and storytelling instinct, Srishti and Fehmi of Gen.E delivered a highly practical and inspiring guide for architects and creatives to turn their design work into memorable narratives. They emphasized that impactful storytelling is not just about aesthetics but about connecting people to purpose, sparking change, and making design relatable.

Ultimately, the session left attendees equipped with the tools, mindset, and motivation to start telling their own stories, stories that could build community, influence perception, and even create tangible change on the ground.