Health Communications Animation for Academics and Researchers
Finding innovative ways to convey complex information is the key challenge for any researcher who wants to disseminate their work in meaningful ways. Luckily, animation is really good at breaking down intimidating concepts and making them easily understandable.
As a specialist in Health Communications animation, I have had the privilege of working with renowned institutions and organisations such as Penn State University, the Huck Centre for Infectious Disease Dynamics, University of Miami, and Cambridge University. I’ve worked on topics ranging from antibiotic resistance awareness to educating coaches about athlete menstrual cycles to addressing vaccine hesitancy, each aimed at bridging the gap between medical research and public knowledge.
Case studies
Here are some recent Health Communications collaborations I’ve participated in to maximise research impact for academics and researchers.
Encourage Understanding & Awareness
Animation is especially good at breaking down complex information into digestible and calming segments, which can help increase engagement. By using captivating visuals, empathic storytelling, and knowledge-loaded narratives, animation empowers viewers to grasp essential information without feeling overwhelmed, making it easier for them to take actionable steps towards better health.
INCREase sensitivity & relatability
Animation can also drive empathy-driven communication, increasing sensitivity and relatability. And with over 20 years of experience in social justice work, I bring a unique perspective to Health Communications. I am an empathic communicator, acutely aware of intersectional identities and marginalizations. I prioritize creating content that is sensitive, diverse, and relatable.
GROUND SCIENCE IN LIVED EXPERIENCE
Animation can help ground science in lived experience. Incorporating relatable scenarios and personal narratives into animations creates powerful connection between the audience and the subject matter, enhancing education and cultivating empathy and understanding. By witnessing how scientific knowledge directly relates to their own lives, viewers are more likely to retain information and make informed decisions regarding their health.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN RESEARCH
By making research findings accessible and engaging, animations can help to build trust and encourage active participation in research projects. For example, animations can be used to explain research methods and findings to communities, promote understanding of the potential benefits and risks of participating in research, and encourage people to get involved in research initiatives.
Promote diversity, equality & inclusion
By making research accessible and engaging to a diverse range of people, animations can help to promote a more inclusive research culture and ensure that research findings reflect the experiences and perspectives of all members of society. This can help to promote a more equitable distribution of the benefits of research and ensure that the research is relevant and meaningful to the communities it serves.
collaboration & representation
Animation can incorporate not just the thoughts and experiences of research participants, but their own hands, artwork, voices and ideas. Animation lends itself to iteration, giving ample opportunity for feedback and revision that incorporate participants ideas and offer them agency in their representation. And participants can even take part in the animation process themselves by creating artwork or attending animation workshops.
