Story Whispering: The Art of Engaging People as Co-Creators

Drawing inspiration from horse whispering, I present the concept of “story whispering” in design research. This approach encourages empathy and active listening to coax out people’s narratives, fostering deeper connections and vulnerability in the design process.

At the core of the practice of design is storytelling. Traditionally, designers have understood storytelling as the crafting of narratives that connect people with their creations. The primary purpose of storytelling for designers is to foster empathy.

Through empathy-driven storytelling, designers can create inclusive, impactful, and transformative solutions that address complex challenges, ultimately improving the human experience. By integrating storytelling into the design process, designers have more effectively created meaningful and resonant work that reflects and shapes our shared understanding of the world and our imagination of the future.

In the vast tapestry of storytelling, we often focus on the storyteller – the weaver of tales that captivate and connect us. However, my belief in participatory design set me on a 30-year-long journey of listening to the stories of people from around the world. As I saw my role shifting from that of a designer of people’s experiences to a facilitator of their imagination and creativity, I realized how difficult it was to restrain my storyteller instinct and instead gently coax people to tell the stories from their life, culture, myths, and mythologies. I have been thinking about how to introduce this unique mindset and skill as a practice distinct from the practice of storytelling.

I wondered about the gentle guide who coaxes these stories forth, listening intently and providing support for the unfolding narrative. Enter the story whisperer, a figure whose role is to listen, empathize, and guide others in sharing their own stories. Like a horse whisperer who gently coaxes out the best in their charges, the story whisperer helps individuals tap into their own storytelling potential, connecting us all through the power of shared experience.

The concept of horse whispering has its roots in natural horsemanship, a philosophy that emphasizes understanding and working with a horse’s instincts and behavior rather than relying on force or dominance. Horse whisperers are skilled individuals who use gentle, empathetic communication to build trust and cooperation with horses, ultimately fostering a deeper connection between horse and human.

I would like to introduce the term “story whisperer” into the vernacular of co-creation. Based on my own experience of coaxing people to tell their stories, some of the foundational skills required of a story whisperer are:

• Having a genuine curiosity about other people’s stories
• Developing active listening skills
• Guiding participants in the role of storyteller with patience and support
• Paying attention to and interpreting silent pauses
• Nurturing a safe and inclusive storytelling environment
• Encouraging vulnerability and authenticity in storytelling
• Acknowledging what you hear from the participant
• Interpreting nuances of the stories with the participant

I would welcome comments from readers who have a point of view on the difference between a storyteller and a story whisperer and how developing an understanding of this difference can help us become better at serving as catalysts of co-creation.