When we first started the project, we didn’t really think about how many different formats we would end up using. We knew we wanted to create a 3D model of Moana and write some articles, but as the work developed, it became much more than that. Without fully realising it at first, we were working within a multimodal framework. Our project used text, visuals, 3D interaction, and audio all together, which helped us tell Moana’s story in a way that felt more complete.
Van Leeuwen (2015) writes about how meaning is created when different modes work together. In our case, the text explained things that the image could not, while the model helped users understand details we described in the articles. For example, if we wrote about Moana’s necklace or her stance, users could immediately turn the model around and see it for themselves. It felt more natural than just writing about it or only showing a photo.
Working in this way also changed how we thought about the tools. Metashape was not just something to make a model, it became a space where we made decisions about what kind of textures we wanted the viewer to see. Blender, too, was not only used for fixing the model but for making sure Moana’s appearance supported the tone of the tour. Audio helped us bring her personality into the project, even if it was just a short introduction.
Schreibman and Gillikin Schoueri (2024) talk about how digital platforms allow stories to be told in layers. That idea really matched our experience. Voyager helped us bring all the parts together and decide how users would move through them. We had to think about which parts of the model should lead to which article, or where to include sound, or where the experience should be simple and quiet.
Looking back, working with multiple modes made the story feel more alive. It also made us reflect more deeply about what we wanted to say. The project was not just about building something technical. It was about learning how to tell a story using different tools and formats that worked together, not separately.