Written by Acting is about telling the truth. This can seem counterintuitive, considering the costumes, makeup and sets that go into the average play or series. It is carefully constructed and fabricated. And yet, if the performances aren’t convincing, an audience will tune out or walk away if it doesn’t feel authentic.
Acting is a powerful medium of expression, a tool for empathy, and a means to deeply understand humans and their intricate motivations. This year, I chose to revisit my passion for acting to enrich my professional and personal life, and here’s why.
Understanding your audience is paramount in business, especially in roles centred around customers and human-centred design. While many strategies use market research and data analytics to help us gauge the “what” and “how” of consumer behaviour, acting delves into the “why.” It’s not just about walking in your customers’ shoes; it’s about understanding the mindset, the personality traits, and the deeply rooted reasons that prompt them to buy those shoes. This goes beyond what is reported or recorded in data or questionnaire answers. This is about genuinely bringing a customer to life.
Personas are foundational to projects that require deep insights and interaction with a customer or user. There are many standard components of persona. They are beneficial when conveying demographic information, data synthesis and a few verbatims to provide a snapshot and context to an audience. They need to improve at getting deep into needs, emotions and insights.
Extending personas with information that actors use to build characters is extremely useful. Adding additional layers about desires and an understanding of how the persona experiences their lives become valuable tools for role-playing and creating stories to underpin ‘jobs to be done’ frameworks. To do this, add a layer of character to a persona.
Character development, a pivotal aspect of acting, is diving deep into the psyche of another being. An actor does not merely mimic behaviours. Instead, they immerse themselves in their character’s emotional and psychological state to comprehend the undercurrents that influence their actions and decisions. When I approach a role, I emotionally connect to the situation the character is in to perceive the world through their eyes. This profound empathy enables us to see beyond mere demographics and into the emotional landscape of our audience.
Beyond extending insights into a persona, acting cultivates personal evolution. It has made me a more holistic individual, teaching me to listen – not just with my ears, but with my intuition. In our fast-paced world, genuine listening has become a rarity. We’re often so engrossed in our thoughts or rehearsing our responses that we fail to truly connect with the person we are speaking with. Acting reconnected me with this ability. The essence of a compelling performance is active listening – absorbing, reacting, and reciprocating with authenticity.
Acting also teaches the delicate balance between self and community. While it’s easy to perceive acting as an endeavour for personal limelight, it is, in essence, a collaboration. Regardless of their role’s size or importance, every cast member is a piece of a larger story. Each actor contributes to painting a comprehensive picture, telling a story larger than individual aspirations. By embracing this collaborative spirit, we learn to sideline our ego for a more significant cause. We understand that our actions should not override or diminish others; we create brilliance when we shine collectively.
This understanding seamlessly extends to our professional endeavours. Whether you’re designing a product, crafting a marketing campaign, or strategising for business growth, recognising that every stakeholder and every team member is crucial ensures holistic success. Each plays a part, and when these parts come together harmoniously, they create experiences that resonate deeply with the audience.
Growth, evolution, and connection are critical to living a whole life. While my journey led me back to the stage, the lessons I’ve learned and the growth I’ve experienced are universal. Acting is for anyone who wishes to understand deeper, connect authentically, and collaborate genuinely.
Especially for designers, delving into play, creativity, and character development can be transformative. It’s not just about creating delightful products but about crafting experiences that resonate with the deep needs of the users. By embracing the principles of acting, we enrich our professional pursuits and navigate our personal journeys with enhanced empathy, understanding, and collaboration. Whether you’re returning to a passion or exploring something new, remember that the stage – literal or metaphorical – is a place of growth, evolution, and profound connections for personal and professional life.
Want to learn more, check out my workshop Acting Skills for Designers.
Storytelling Built For Innovation 