Hey Fellow Case Writers!

It's been a great summer busy, but great. Between teaching courses, developing new AI in Education resources, and diving deep into case writing projects, I've had my hands full.

But there was one thing I hadn't tackled yet: creating a visual case using AI.

That changed when my friend Carin, Harvard Business School's Executive Director and Case Method Trainer, shared something intriguing on LinkedIn. In her post, she described the challenges her team faced at the AOM conference when they tried using AI to create visual cases and case materials.

Her verdict? It was "a very, very tough challenge" and AI simply wasn't able to deliver what they needed.

Well, you know me—I couldn't resist that kind of challenge! 🙂

What follows is my process and results from experimenting with AI to create visual cases. Spoiler alert: the results might surprise you.

[Link to original LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7355975372959633408]

The following is the process I developed to create a visual case knowing that this is just the start…

The 5-Stage Visual Case Creation Process

Based on the successful FitZone comic experiment

Stage 1: Foundation Setting (5 minutes)

Goal: Lock in the visual and narrative framework before creating content

Key Decisions:

• Visual Style: Choose your reference (instructional modern, vintage, corporate infographic, etc.)

• Layout Format: How many pages? Panel density? (10-12 scenes = 2 pages works well)

• Tone: Professional, casual, narrative-driven, etc.

• Setting Style: Modern/realistic vs. simplified/stylized

Prompt Template:

"I want to create a visual case comic based on [case name]. The style should be [instructional modern/vintage/etc.], tone should be [professional/casual], and I want [X] pages with [realistic/simplified] visuals. The case is about [brief summary]."

****** what I had to do was to upload my case which gave ChatGPT the context for the story line etc.

Stage 2: Character Development (10 minutes)

Goal: Create consistent, recognizable characters based on case details

Extract from Your Case:

• Main protagonists (names, roles, ages)

• Physical descriptions (use case details + logical inference)

• Personality traits that drive the narrative

• Key relationships/dynamics

Prompt Template:

"Based on this case [attach case], help me develop visual character profiles for [character names]. Include their roles, approximate age, physical appearance, and key personality traits that would show in a comic."

Pro Tip:

Use actual photos as visual references when possible (like you did) - this creates immediate consistency.

Stage 3: Scene Architecture (15 minutes)

Goal: Map out the story beats before writing dialogue

The Formula That Works:

• Scenes 1-3: Setup (characters, setting, background)

• Scenes 4-6: Problem introduction (the challenge/opportunity)

• Scenes 7-9: Tension building (costs, risks, complications)

• Scenes 10-12: Decision pressure (the choice, stakes, cliffhanger)

Prompt Template:

"Help me break down this case into 10-12 comic scenes following this structure: [setup → problem → tension → decision]. Each scene should focus on one key element of the case and build toward the central dilemma."

Stage 4: Script Development (20 minutes)

Goal: Write natural dialogue and scene descriptions for each panel

Key Rules You Discovered:

• Dialogue only between main characters (no narrator voice)

• Reader as observer (we're watching their conversation unfold)

• Visual elements appear naturally (charts, notes, sketches only when characters would actually use them)

• Panel descriptions include setting, character positions, and visual focus

Prompt Template:

"Now write the full comic script for [Page 1/Page 2]. For each panel include: panel number, visual description, character dialogue only (no narration), and notes for image generation. Keep dialogue natural and conversational."

Stage 5: Visual Generation (30 minutes)

Goal: Create consistent imagery across all panels

Pre-Generation Setup:

• Establish character visual references

• Define consistent setting elements

• Plan panel layouts and sizes

Prompt Template for Each Panel:

"Create a comic panel showing [scene description] with [character details] in [setting description]. Style: [your established style]. Characters should match previous panels - [specific consistency notes]."

Pro Tip:

Generate 2-3 panels at a time, then check for consistency before continuing.

What is important to NOTE is that AI can help in this process BUT it is a process and most likely NOT a final solution for a detailed case.

I pushed the skills boundary by utilizing photoshop and doing a bit of visual/image editing but if you think about it, I was able to create this in 60 minutes.

If I had to create this from scratch it would take A LOT more skills and input. The AI removed much of the requirement to be a designer and character artist.

Quick Reference Checklist

Before Starting:

• [ ] Choose visual style reference

• [ ] Decide on page count and layout

• [ ] Set tone and perspective

During Character Development:

• [ ] Extract physical descriptions from case

• [ ] Define personality traits that show visually

• [ ] Create character reference notes

During Scene Planning:

• [ ] Follow setup → problem → tension → decision structure

• [ ] Ensure each scene advances the story

• [ ] Plan natural dialogue moments

During Scripting:

• [ ] Keep dialogue conversational and realistic

• [ ] Include clear visual descriptions

• [ ] Note where charts/visuals appear naturally

During Generation:

• [ ] Generate in small batches

• [ ] Check character consistency between panels

• [ ] Maintain setting and style consistency

Time Investment

• Setup: 30 minutes of planning

• Execution: 30-45 minutes of generation

• Total: 60-75 minutes for a complete 2-page visual case

Success Factors You Discovered

1. Iterative approach beats trying to do everything in one prompt

2. Character consistency is crucial - establish visual references early

3. Natural dialogue works better than forced exposition

4. Reader as observer creates more engaging experience

5. Visual elements should support, not dominate the story

Other Resources and Books

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Wrapping it all Up!

If you are interested in trying out the Free Case Study Prompt Generator .. Click the image below.

Thank you for being a part of our community. Together, we're shaping the future of education, one case study at a time!

Warm regards,

Matthew