Telling digital stories with GIFs
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) is the second most popular image format used on the Internet, after JPEG. While GIFs have been around for about 30 years, they became very popular in the 2010s, with the rise of social media — especially Tumblr. The Oxford English Dictionary even named GIF as Word of the Year in 2012.
As they’re easy to use and universally supported, GIFs are everywhere. They’re also perfect for telling digital stories, here’s why:
1. GIFs catch attention
Even a subtle animation brings images to life
2. GIFs make explaining how things work easy
Perfect for images of vehicles, machines and mechanisms and all kinds of transitions, evolutions and transformations
3. GIFs are a way to showcase all kinds of collections
Every piece of content has a chance to shine, not only masterpieces and big names
4. GIFs convey emotion
Emotion makes stories more vibrant and memorable
5. They’re a quick and easy way to make your content relevant
Cause there’s room for cultural heritage in everyone’s life!
6. GIFs can be standalone mini-stories
You can add captions for a meme-like feel
7. They can be also combined with text and images to illustrate more complex narratives
You can embed GIFs in the platform of your choice or use the story functionality on GIPHY for a quick and shareable story
If you feel inspired but don’t know how to create your own GIF, here are some resources to get you started.
It’s time to show off your storytelling GIFts and submit your entry for our creative contest. Share your thoughts on social media using the #DigiStoryFest hashtag.