Interactive digital narrative design for education and advocacy

In recent years, interest has grown in the use of interactive digital narratives (IDNs) as tools for education and social transformation, raising the question of how interactivity can extend the narrative-change approach to education, social change, and advocacy. While existing scholarship has largely focused on evaluating interactive digital narratives for their effectiveness in teaching content or influencing behavior, limited research articulates formal design principles for their construction. Through critical analysis of existing literature, IDNs, and the development of three original IDN works, this research investigates how interactive digital narratives can be intentionally designed to shape cognitive, behavioral, and affective change. Using a research-creation methodology, the study draws on theories from game design, narrative psychology, learning sciences, systems thinking, and theatre studies. The findings are synthesized into a formal design framework for educational and persuasive IDNs. This framework offers practical guidance for narrative change practitioners, campaigners, and educators seeking to design interactive experiences with transformative intent.