Narrative Tenses in Design Stories

• When we tell stories about past projects, we use narrative tenses together to show which action happened first, which was in progress, and which followed.
• Tense
• Form
• Use in a Design Story
• Example
• Past Simple
• verb-ed / irregular
• Main completed events
• We released the app in Boston.
• Past Continuous
• was/were + -ing
• An action in progress in the past
• The team was testing the logo in Seattle.
• Past Perfect
• had + past participle
• An action before another past action
• We had checked the trademark before the leak.
• Remember
• Use past simple for the main sequence of events in a project timeline.
• Use past continuous for a longer background action interrupted by a short event.
• Use past perfect for something that happened earlier than another past action.
• Often, all three tenses appear in one complex sentence during a client meeting.
• Examples
• While Sarah was preparing the presentation in Chicago, the client called.
• By the time the legal team arrived in New York, we had already scrapped the badge.
• Mark designed the interface while the agency was running a study in Austin.
• Common mistakes
• When I arrived to the studio, they launched the brand.
• When I arrived at the studio, they were launching the brand.
• We finished the logo before the client has approved it.
• We finished the logo before the client had approved it.

Complete the sentences

• While David (work) ____ on the website in Seattle, the system crashed.
• By the time we reached Boston, the agency (already / finish) ____ the icons.
• Jessica (check) ____ the trademark yesterday morning.
• The team (test) ____ the prototype when the power went out in London.
• Before Sarah joined the project in Austin, the managers (hire) ____ a new freelance designer.
• Mark (unveil) ____ the new visual identity in Chicago last night.

Sources: photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels