Digital Storytelling
Animation, film and interactive media on science, technology and society.
Up to 2 students
7–18 years old
Unleash your imagination through the power of digital media! Create compelling stories as comics, illustrations, short movies, animated story-driven games, or other formats — so long as the final product is digital. Open exclusively to secondary and high school students.
There is no strict subject requirement in this category. It is freestyle — students are free to choose any topic or theme. What we value most are stories that truly matter, carrying meaning, emotion, or an important message.
AI usage
AI is encouraged. Students may use AI tools to generate images, videos, sound, and other assets. All AI usage must be clearly cited, with proper credit to prompts, models, and resources in documentation and presentations.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Every project must be linked to at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). See the full list of 17 goals at sdgs.un.org/goals.
What we value
- Originality & impact of the story
- Digital artistry and presentation quality
- Technical execution (editing, interactivity, sound, polish)
- Thoughtful, transparent AI usage and citations
- Stories that truly matter and connect with the audience
Inspiration
Sample Project Ideas
There's no subject requirement — this category is freestyle. Use these as a starting point.
Climate-Change Superheroes
A digital comic book about climate-change superheroes.
Interactive Illustrated E-Book
An interactive illustrated e-book that teaches empathy or science.
Short Animated Film
A short animated film on social issues, cultural stories, or future worlds.
Visual Novel / Story Game
A visual novel / story-based game with player choices and branching paths.
Multimedia Narrative Piece
A multimedia piece mixing narration, digital paintings, and sound design.
Motion-Graphics Explainer
A motion-graphics/infographic video explaining a complex real-world topic.
Watch
Projects From Past Seasons
Real Digital Storytelling entries from past Infomatrix finalists.
Judging Criteria
Digital Storytelling Rubric
Each criterion is scored on a scale of 1 to 5 by the international jury.
- 1 · Needs work
- 2 · Limited
- 3 · Adequate
- 4 · Strong
- 5 · Exceptional
| Criteria | 1 Point | 2 Points | 3 Points | 4 Points | 5 Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01. Originality / Creativity | The artwork lacks originality and creativity, resembling common themes. | Limited creativity with minimal innovative elements. | Some creative features, but the overall artwork lacks uniqueness. | Demonstrates creativity with a few original elements. | Exceptional originality and creativity are evident throughout the artwork. |
| 02. Visual Impact | The artwork lacks visual appeal and fails to captivate the viewer. | Limited visual impact; the artwork needs more compelling elements. | The artwork has some visual appeal but lacks overall impact. | Good visual impact with a balance between elements. | Exceptional visual impact; the artwork is visually striking and memorable. |
| 03. Message & Idea | The artwork lacks a clear message or idea, making it difficult to interpret. | Limited message or idea; the concept needs more development. | The artwork conveys a message or idea, but it could be more clearly defined. | Good incorporation of message and idea with room for refinement. | Exceptional integration of a clear and thought-provoking message or idea. |
| 04. Technical Skills | Little evidence of technical skills; the artwork seems beyond the student's abilities. | Basic technical skills demonstrated; significant room for improvement. | Competent technical skills; meets the expected standard. | Strong technical skills displayed with advanced techniques. | Exceptional technical skills; the student demonstrates mastery of digital art concepts. |
| 05. Oral Presentation | Incoherent presentation; lacks structure and clarity. | Presentation is somewhat disorganized and difficult to follow. | Adequate presentation with clear communication but may lack enthusiasm. | Engaging and well-structured presentation; effectively conveys key points. | Exceptional oral presentation with enthusiasm, clarity, and strong engagement. |
| 06. Documentation | Little to no documentation provided; lacks necessary details. | Minimal documentation; insufficient details to understand the artwork. | Adequate documentation with some room for improvement. | Comprehensive documentation that effectively explains the creative process. | Exceptional documentation, providing thorough and clear insights into the artwork's creation. |
| 07. The Stand Design | The stand lacks visual appeal and fails to showcase the project effectively. | Limited effort in stand design; does not attract attention. | Adequate stand design with some elements that showcase the project. | Well-designed stand that effectively highlights the project's key features. | Exceptional stand design, visually appealing, and enhances the overall presentation. |
| 08. Responsible AI Usage | AI use (if any) is opaque or improper (no credits; licensing/privacy ignored). | Minimal citation; limited oversight; unclear value added by AI. | Cited tools/models and prompts; human review present; generally appropriate. | Transparent, well-justified AI use with editing/validation and compliance. | Exemplary: ethical, transparent AI integration that elevates the product with reproducible process. |
| 09. Narrative Structure & Story Flow | Disjointed; poor pacing; hard to follow. | Uneven flow; confusing transitions or continuity issues. | Coherent structure; pacing mostly works; minor issues. | Well-paced, purposeful scenes or beats; effective transitions. | Expert flow (linear or branching) that sustains engagement throughout. |
At the World Finals
Your own booth to showcase your project
If you come to the Infomatrix World Finals, you will be given a booth like this one, where you can showcase your project to the public, visiting schools, sponsors, and other participants.
- A dedicated exhibition booth to display your posters, prototype, and demo for everyone at the venue.
- Separately, you and your team will be taken to the jury judging rooms for your official presentation and evaluation.
registration_status: open
Ready to enter Digital Storytelling?
Registration for Season 2027 is open until 15 March.
Open the registration portal