Because I use Story Maps Collections as a digital magazine for our program, I'd like to see better customization tools like those you would find on a digital magazine like Smithsonian or Scientific American. A few examples:
- Place to upload and organize more prominent digital cover image in tandem with other magazine cover content currently available for display. Cover images are often what draws a reader to content, just as individual StoryMaps are anchored by that first scrolling story image or video. Why not add the same capability to an overarching collection?
- Ability to insert and organize key buttons such as "subscribe" and buttons based on themes. For example, our program supports marine research. It would be great to access current and archived Story Map pieces via the Collections Theme page based on buttons such as "Marine Life," "Sensing," and "Visualization." Such organization would make it easier for readers to navigate the breadth of research our program supports.
- Ability to access past editions of StoryMaps Collections via buttons or Image Cards. For those of us using StoryMaps for science communication pieces over a long period of time, being able to access prior collections will make it easier for readers to understand research progress and programmatic work over time.
My apologies for the length, and thank you to the StoryMaps team for all your hard work. Consistently implementing improvements can't be easy, and your team is the most responsive to its community that I have ever experienced in web publications. Great job!