The Challenge

The project began with the directive to create a personal MULTIMODAL (visual + linguistic) narrative in a chosen format—a true "chose your own adventure" prompt. The narrative needed to weave together at least five literate segments, including 2–3 poems in varying structures and 2–3 short, memoir-style prose pieces, each addressing one of the following realms of human experience: Home/Place, Family, Education, Spirituality, Entertainment.

The work was required to integrate both written/oral elements and visual design into a cohesive whole, with careful attention to setting, characters, point of view, theme, conflict, and the use of literary devices. The emphasis was on complementing the visual presentation with text, ensuring that the visuals and literature were inseparable parts of the same narrative experience.

The Approach

I was immediately inspired by the golden age or radio for this project. Storytelling has always been central to human connection—but before the internet, before television, and even before widespread print, the airwaves carried our shared narratives. I set out to create a multimodal project that honored the golden era of radio—a time when families gathered around to listen, imagine, and experience stories together—while merging it with modern poetic expression.

The project took shape as The Haitz Multimodal Radio Handbook—a hybrid of visual design, audio narration, and written poetic text. Inspired by the warm tones, rounded dials, and typography of vintage radio sets and advertisements, the handbook serves as a listening guidebook that paired with the crafted audio. Each “station” represents a different narrative or poem, blending form and function (and humor):

• Audio Component – Original poems and memoir-style prose were recorded in a variety of AI-generated voices, tones, and mixes to reflect the emotional and rhythmic range of each piece and to mirror the experience of listening and tuning into different radio stations.
• Visual Design – Each page mimics a radio dial, with visual “meters” to indicate the intended rhythm, rhyme, and voice for each work.
• Preset Formats – Every entry showcases its poetic form—whether free verse, structured rhyme, or experimental prose—allowing readers to navigate the collection like a curated broadcast.

The Content

The narratives explore themes of home, family, spirituality, entertainment, and education—each one crafted to evoke a sense of place, character, and personal evolution. The integration of literary devices, sound, and design elements creates a full-sensory storytelling experience.

The Outcome

The Haitz Multimodal Radio Handbook is both a nostalgic homage and a modern experiment in storytelling. It bridges oral storytelling with design solutions of a retro/tangible artifact. More than a collection of words, it invites the audience to pause, tune in, and truly listen.

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