Himanish Goel
Paragraph
Productions
Hear. Imagine. Connect.
Cinema made real through sound.
Cinema made real through sound.
Role = UX Strategist and UI/UX Designer
Tools = Figma and Photoshop
Project Type = Group Project, that includes:
- Britny Forbes - Strategist = https://www.britny-forbes.com
- Tanmay Kumar - Art Director = https://tkumar.me
- Kedi Hickman - Copywriter = https://kedihickman.com/5/
- Himanish Goel
OVERVIEW
Paragraph Productions is a storytelling platform where movies come alive in the form of sound for people who can’t see.
Instead of describing the film like a robot, they use sound to tell the story by giving music, voice, silence, and ambient sounds to fill the story with color so that everyone can feel it.
BACKGROUND
Right now, visually impaired people are feeling left out of the magic of cinema. With audio descriptions that often feel boring, robotic, and way too overly detailed. Allowing people to not enjoy or connect with the story emotionally, as they feel like it's just explaining things to them.
- Over 2.2 billion people around the world live with some form of visual impairment, and at least 1 billion of these cases could have been prevented or treated.
- Approximately 20% of people with disabilities have canceled some form of streaming service subscription because of the lack of accessibility issues.
THE TENSION
If Paragraph decides to launch right now, they may face the tension of:
- Not being taken seriously by big studios or streamers because sound is a niche market that's only targeting blind users.
- People might confuse it with accessibility add-ons instead of seeing it as a new format of cinema.
They might even struggle to find funding and partnerships unless they show how it can scale and benefit all the audiences.
THE SOLUTION
Paragraph Productions
- Let sound be the storyteller, with no more robotic voiceovers anymore.
- Make visually impaired people feel like equal movie lovers and not a side demographic.
- Create new forms of immersive storytelling that’s audio first, and built from the ground up.
- Design a functional app and website for people to find and enjoy these stories at any time.
- Collaborate with sound designers, filmmakers, and streaming platforms to help stories reach a global audience.
INSIGHT
Visually impaired people don’t want to be treated differently, they want to feel the story like everyone else does.
BUSINESS IMPACT
The global blind and visually impaired population exceeds 2.2 billion, and yet their cinematic experience remains limited and often emotionless. Paragraph Productions introduces a new way of telling stories—Spoken Cinema—which is built on immersive audio experiences that allow anyone, especially the visually impaired, to feel the full magic of film.
As the global audiobook and audio entertainment market is expected to grow to $35.5 billion by 2030, Paragraph Productions can tap into this rising demand with subscription based access, with platform partnerships (like Netflix, Audible, or even Spotify), and original audio first films.
If even 1% of the visually impaired population subscribed at $5 per month, Paragraph could unlock a $1.3 billion in annual revenue, creating a profitable, purposeful business that brings cinema to those who have been left out, while also setting a new standard in the audio storytelling market worldwide.
As the global audiobook and audio entertainment market is expected to grow to $35.5 billion by 2030, Paragraph Productions can tap into this rising demand with subscription based access, with platform partnerships (like Netflix, Audible, or even Spotify), and original audio first films.
If even 1% of the visually impaired population subscribed at $5 per month, Paragraph could unlock a $1.3 billion in annual revenue, creating a profitable, purposeful business that brings cinema to those who have been left out, while also setting a new standard in the audio storytelling market worldwide.
STRATEGY
Build the first cinema sound platform that transforms how we tell and hear stories all around the world. This means designing audio-first experiences, partnering with acclaimed and upcoming storytellers in the business, launching with major streaming brands, and empowering visually impaired users who have been out of the conversation of cinema for too long.
STRAT LINE
Don’t describe the story. Let sound be the story.
TAGLINE
Where sound speaks, and stories stay with you.
PRODUCT EXPERIENCE
What We Created:
A new experience called Spoken Cinema, where stories are entirely told through sound, using layered audio, voice acting, and ambient storytelling.
What It Solves:
It gives visually impaired people a new way to feel stories that are not being told about what’s happening but by experiencing it emotionally through sound.
A new experience called Spoken Cinema, where stories are entirely told through sound, using layered audio, voice acting, and ambient storytelling.
What It Solves:
It gives visually impaired people a new way to feel stories that are not being told about what’s happening but by experiencing it emotionally through sound.
Product Outcome - Paragraph Productions
Introduction To Sole Story
We are proposing the implementation of a new digital experience called “Sole Story”. The new digital experience will focus on the sneakerhead, sneaker enthusiasts who collect and trade shoes, and have knowledge about shoe collections.
The growth of the sneaker collection can be traced to the launch of Air Jordan in 1984 with collaboration of Nike and basketball superstar, Michael Jordan. Over the years, the sneaker collection market has grown exponentially.
We are proposing the implementation of a new digital experience called “Sole Story”. The new digital experience will focus on the sneakerhead, sneaker enthusiasts who collect and trade shoes, and have knowledge about shoe collections.
The growth of the sneaker collection can be traced to the launch of Air Jordan in 1984 with collaboration of Nike and basketball superstar, Michael Jordan. Over the years, the sneaker collection market has grown exponentially.
Dashboard
The shoe manufacturers have sneaker drops every month with a limited number of sneakers. Initially, the sneakers were available on a first come-first served basis, but the use of bots led to cornering of sneakers by a select few. Thus, they have now transitioned to a lottery system where registered users for a particular shoe drop have a chance at winning a new shoe drop.
Given the limited number of shoes available and increasing number of sneakerheads, there is a thriving resale market for sneakers. The sneaker resale market is expected to grow from $10 billion in 2021 to $30 billion in 2030, per StockX estimates. As the market has grown, so has the pricing of sneakers with limited availability. For example, in April 2023, a pair of sneakers worn by Michael Jordan in the final NBA season sold for $2.2 million.
The shoe manufacturers have sneaker drops every month with a limited number of sneakers. Initially, the sneakers were available on a first come-first served basis, but the use of bots led to cornering of sneakers by a select few. Thus, they have now transitioned to a lottery system where registered users for a particular shoe drop have a chance at winning a new shoe drop.
Given the limited number of shoes available and increasing number of sneakerheads, there is a thriving resale market for sneakers. The sneaker resale market is expected to grow from $10 billion in 2021 to $30 billion in 2030, per StockX estimates. As the market has grown, so has the pricing of sneakers with limited availability. For example, in April 2023, a pair of sneakers worn by Michael Jordan in the final NBA season sold for $2.2 million.
Identity Badge
Foot Locker can leverage its status as a leader footwear retailer by improving the digital experience. This will create brand awareness and create new markets for Foot Locker. But how?
By creating the Identity Badge, the user will answer a series of questions and based on their selections, an identity badge will be created for the user. The identity badge will be unique for every user and the recommendations to the user will be based on their identity badge.
Foot Locker can leverage its status as a leader footwear retailer by improving the digital experience. This will create brand awareness and create new markets for Foot Locker. But how?
By creating the Identity Badge, the user will answer a series of questions and based on their selections, an identity badge will be created for the user. The identity badge will be unique for every user and the recommendations to the user will be based on their identity badge.
Sneaker Trading Marketplace
As part of the Sole Story, Foot Locker will tap into another business opportunity for creating a marketplace to buy and sell sneakers. This will enable users to sell sneakers from their personal collections and buy sneakers as needed. The goal of the marketplace is to enable Foot Locker make inroads among sneaker lovers.
Certificate of Authenticity
For any sneaker sales and resales, Foot Locker will provide a certificate of authenticity. Given its legacy, Foot Locker can be a trusted partner in the resale market. With growth in sneakers resales and increased prices, there is a growing problem of fake sneakers in the resale market. The certificate of authenticity provided by Foot Locker will confirm the authenticity of the sneakers.
The Certificate
You finally did it. This certificate is your official proof of authenticity, that says your sneaker is officially real, verified, and fully yours. Whether you decide to print it or download it, it’s more than just a receipt. It is a moment for each sneaker lover, a moment that tells you belong here. Welcome to the culture.
Certificate of Authenticity - Print Option
Users will have the option of printing the certificate of authenticity, as needed. For example, for sales at physical locations, the ability to print certificates will be an option for sellers.
Certificate of Authenticity - Download Option
Users will have the option of also downloading the certificate of authenticity, as needed. For digital sales, this will be a valuable option for trading sneakers.
Community Events
Given that community is important for the younger generation, I propose holding an Annual Foot Locker SneakerCON. The SneakerCON event will enable display of private home collections, resale of sneakers by sneaker related seminars. The event will create buzz among sneaker lovers and create brand awareness about the Sole Story brand.
Also, Foot Locker should hold regular sneaker community events at local stores for creating buzz and awareness in the local community. This will change the brand perception among sneaker lovers, one lover at a time. In conducting my user research, the Foot Locker brand evoked nostalgic feelings and was seen as a brand for the older cohort. Holding these events will make the brand more relevant for the younger cohort and improve brand recognition.
Given that community is important for the younger generation, I propose holding an Annual Foot Locker SneakerCON. The SneakerCON event will enable display of private home collections, resale of sneakers by sneaker related seminars. The event will create buzz among sneaker lovers and create brand awareness about the Sole Story brand.
Also, Foot Locker should hold regular sneaker community events at local stores for creating buzz and awareness in the local community. This will change the brand perception among sneaker lovers, one lover at a time. In conducting my user research, the Foot Locker brand evoked nostalgic feelings and was seen as a brand for the older cohort. Holding these events will make the brand more relevant for the younger cohort and improve brand recognition.
Community Discussion
There will also be a community discussion screen to enable users to discuss everything about sneakers. The discussion groups will enable users to chat about sneakers, exchange notes about recent trends and sneaker trading options. Creation of community discussions will ensure stickiness among users and give more traction to the Sole Story brand.
Sole Stories
Sole Stories is a space where sneaker lovers share personal moments about finding the right pair that helped them feel whole again. Maybe it’s walking through pain, showing up with confidence, or just feeling seen. These stories come from real people, and not product pages. It’s not just about the shoes, it’s about how the right sole can shift your soul.
Product Outcome - Social Connect
Process & Reflection
PROCESS
Working on Paragraph Productions was both an eye-opening and meaningful experience. It helped me understand what storytelling through sound truly means, especially for people who experience the world differently on a daily occurrence. As a group project during our first semester at Brandcenter, the four of us brought our different strengths to the project from strategy, copywriting, art direction, brand storytelling, product design, and UX, which helped bring a side hustle to life in a way that felt real and human. We spent time learning from the visually impaired community, which guided our decisions and made the work feel more personal. This project reminded me that design isn’t just about what we see, it’s about what we feel, how we listen, and how we make space for others to feel seen too.
Working on Paragraph Productions was both an eye-opening and meaningful experience. It helped me understand what storytelling through sound truly means, especially for people who experience the world differently on a daily occurrence. As a group project during our first semester at Brandcenter, the four of us brought our different strengths to the project from strategy, copywriting, art direction, brand storytelling, product design, and UX, which helped bring a side hustle to life in a way that felt real and human. We spent time learning from the visually impaired community, which guided our decisions and made the work feel more personal. This project reminded me that design isn’t just about what we see, it’s about what we feel, how we listen, and how we make space for others to feel seen too.
REFLECTION
Working on Paragraph Productions made me realize that cinema doesn’t only have to live on a screen, but it lives in our everyday moments. The people we meet, the emotions we feel, and the situations we face are all part of a grander story that sound can help us feel more deeply within ourselves. This project reminded me that life itself is kind of like a dream, and it’s up to us to decide how we get through it, whether that means being stuck in a loop or living with awareness in the present. Spoken Cinema helped me see that real storytelling isn’t just about showing but about the true feeling at heart. And that can change how we connect with the world around us.
Working on Paragraph Productions made me realize that cinema doesn’t only have to live on a screen, but it lives in our everyday moments. The people we meet, the emotions we feel, and the situations we face are all part of a grander story that sound can help us feel more deeply within ourselves. This project reminded me that life itself is kind of like a dream, and it’s up to us to decide how we get through it, whether that means being stuck in a loop or living with awareness in the present. Spoken Cinema helped me see that real storytelling isn’t just about showing but about the true feeling at heart. And that can change how we connect with the world around us.
Finance is no longer just for the insiders.