Photo: User interaction with the Storywheel prototype during the Umeå University workshop, 2026. Photo credits: Emma Kirjavainen / Indigenous Digital Storytelling with New Media (Interreg Aurora).
A user study was conducted at Umeå University as part of the Indigenous Digital Storytelling with New Media project. A team of research assistants from the University of Lapland collaborated in January 2026 with a study group at Umeå University, with the session arranged by project partners at Umeå University, to explore new approaches to interactive storytelling.
During the session, the University of Lapland team presented a tangible storytelling prototype “Storywheel”, designed to support narrative creation through physical interaction. The tool invites users to engage with storytelling prompts such as “Who?”, “Where?”, and “Why?”, encouraging reflective and participatory story-building processes.
Participants actively interacted with the prototype, providing valuable insights into usability, engagement, and the role of tangible interfaces in facilitating storytelling. The workshop created a collaborative environment where students experimented with narrative structures while contributing feedback to the ongoing development of the tool.
This user study represents an important step in refining the Storywheel as a facilitation method for participatory storytelling, bridging digital and physical interaction, particularly in Indigenous contexts. It also strengthens collaboration between the University of Lapland and Umeå University, highlighting the value of cross-institutional exchange in advancing research and practice in Indigenous and community-centred design.
Through activities like this, the project continues to translate research into applied methods, supporting inclusive and innovative approaches to storytelling. The Storywheel will be further developed and tested in upcoming workshops, contributing to the refinement of the prototype and informing future research directions.
Storywheel prototype and workshop setup at Umeå University, 2026. Photo credits: Axel Niemimäki / Indigenous Digital Storytelling with New Media (Interreg Aurora).
Learn more about the Interreg Aurora funded project Indigenous Digital Storytelling with New Media
