Creating a Timeline using the Concept Canvas

Timeline activities present a timeline to participants and have them place pins at different points to indicate how they are feeling or what they are doing at those times. In this tutorial, you will learn to create a timeline activity using the Concept Canvas.

Note:  To use this feature, contact Forsta Plus Digital Diaries at [e-mail]. Annual Forsta Plus Digital Diaries subscribers access this feature as part of their annual license.

1:  Creating the Concept Canvas

Start by creating a new Concept Canvas activity.

Click New Activity and select Concept Canvas.

2: Customizing the Concept Canvas

The next step is to customize the concept canvas.

1. Give the Timeline activity a descriptive title.

2. Upload the timeline image you want to use. Below is an example image:

Tip:  You can create and upload your own custom timeline image.

3. Add instructional text for the participants. This example uses the following text:

   We would like to explore the journey you have taken with your disease from the very beginning from the first symptoms before and during diagnosis, to the present day.
   Please use the pins to mark key moments on the timeline/ horizontal axis. Indicate if it was an emotional up or down and describe your experience.
   When your pin is above the neutral baseline, this counts as a high point.
   When you place the pin below the baseline, this counts as a low point.
   To help you, we have included some labels that indicate key moments.

4. Add a description statement. The description statement is the title of a follow up question (open-ended answer field) where the participant can specify why they made their selection. This example uses the text “Describe this event.”

5. Toggle on the Sentiment option. This will allow the participant to select between different emojis to describe their feelings every time they place a pin on the image.

6. Toggle on Labels and add them. This example uses the different stages of the timeline that the participant will place on the graph.

3:  Learn More

Learn more about Concept Canvas activities:

• Using the Concept Canvas

• Creating Concept Canvas Activities

• Scheduling Concept Canvas Activities

• Creating a Timeline using the Concept Canvas

How-To Guides for Concept Canvas

• Creating a 2x2 Graph using the Concept Canvas: Create a 2x2 graph to measure participants' feelings and perceptions toward different brands or products.

• Creating a Photo Metaphor using the Concept Canvas: Present participants with an image grid and have them select the images that remind them of particular brands or qualities.

• Creating a Cartoon Completion using the Concept Canvas: Create a comic book strip of user scenarios with empty speech bubbles that participants can place pins in to complete.

• Creating a Timeline using the Concept Canvas: Present participants with a timeline and have them place pins at different points to indicate how they are feeling or what they are doing at those times.