For those who might not know, knowledge translation is the synthesis, exchange, and use of knowledge by policymakers and other relevant stakeholders with the aim of influencing action – in this case to improve people’s health. Knowledge translation tools and processes include policy briefs, rapid responses and policy dialogues, among other things.

With everything moving at a faster pace, how can those knowledge translation tools and processes become more effective and engaging? Integrating visualisations, such as infographics and videos, was the answer for the Knowledge to Policy (K2P)Center, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Policy dialogues convene researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to discuss priority health topics. They have shown to be effective in bridging the know–do gap. The team learned that infographics and videos are effective ice-breakers in policy dialogues, especially in dialogues on challenging health topics. Moreover, infographics and videos are useful and time-efficient for introducing the policy dialogue process, topic, and collaborating partners. In fact, they set the process straight and make the topic clear.

 

 

Here are K2P’s 7 tips to help you upscale your policy dialogue using infographics and video:

1. Experiment with using infographics and videos in your next policy dialogue. Creativity and innovation are what keeps us moving, even in knowledge translation.
2. Make sure you produce high-quality infographics and videos. Successful infographics and videos are the result of a common understanding between content and communication experts.
3. Tell a story with a short and simple message. Have clear messages for your stakeholders to remember easily, and develop your infographics and videos around those messages.
4. Invest time in the preparation of your infographics and videos, as they will be the key to catch your stakeholder’s attention and ensure that the information is well-received and understood.
5. Be neutral in explaining the policy dialogue process, topic, and collaborating partners in the infographics and videos. If perceived as neutral, the infographics and videos will set you off to a good start into the policy dialogue process. 
6. Tailor the infographics and video to your target audience. In order to do so, you must know your policy dialogue participants well, e.g. to avoid using any visuals that stakeholders may perceive as offensive.
7. Recycle your infographics and videos. Share them with the media and on social media to introduce your topic to the public.

Finally, infographics and videos are a good opportunity to get your knowledge into the hands of policymakers and other relevant stakeholders, and to influence action for better health. Innovation is your key! What are your innovative tools to improve policy dialogues or other knowledge translation processes?  

During a visit at the K2P Center, Olivia Biermann developed the idea for this blog and video, together with Rayane Nasreddine and Clara Abou Samra. Fadi El-Jardali provided input to the blog and video. Rana Saleh supported the recording of the video. Rayane Nasreddine filmed and edited the video.