Session 10 – Knowledge Translation + Dissemination Strategies

Overview

  • In this session, we will explore the development and use of infographics and zines in communicating complex issues in a food system context.
  • In tutorial, your group will begin your initial draft of your infographic or zine

** This session is an adaption of curriculum from Dr Carmen Byker-Shanks at Montana State University **

Objectives

After completing this session, you should be able to:

  • Articulate the need for communicating complex food system knowledge in an clear, accessible, and meaningful medium
  • Access web-based infographic software and zine templates
  • Develop your group's first draft of your infographic or zine

Key Terms + Concepts

  • Infographic

Required Readings + Resources

** Portions of this section have been adapted from the work of Dr Carmen Byker-Shanks at Montana State University **

  • Golombisky, K., & Hagen, R. (2013). White space is not your enemy: A beginner's guide to communicating visually through graphic, web & multimedia design. Focal Press. Retrieved through Canvas or the UBC Library Website
    • Chapter 10 - Infographics: Maximum information in limited space

There are many ways to disseminate the findings of your project. To provide you with an opportunity to explore and develop a broad range communication competencies, your group will choose between developing an infographic or a zine. Both formats are easily shared electronically, through social media or websites, or IRL, through poster presentations or canvasing. Both formats build upon core communication competencies related to STEM disciplines (e.g., clearly stated purpose, partnership, approach/methods, findings, and discussion), while allowing for more creative ways to engage your audience by incorporating graphics and constructing a narrative flow.

Infographics are graphic depictions of complex information (e.g., knowledge, data, concepts, ideas, etc.). This medium relies upon visual elements to clearly and concisely communicate complex information to diverse audiences. Infographics use evidence and practice based data, compelling statistics, easy-to-read fonts, complementary colour schemes, simple charts, bold graphs, and other graphics to disseminate information in a quick and easily digestible format.

Zines, short for fanzine or magazine, are often associated with alternative or counter-culture movements and are a form of inexpensive, DIY self-publication. For a brief overview of the history of zines, visit this entry from the Chapel Hill Rare Book Blog.

A well-designed infographic and/or zine does the following:

  1. Tells a story
  2. Identifies causes and issues
  3. Provides available data
  4. Inspires ways forward

Tutorial Session - Developing Your Infographic or Zine

OVERVIEW // Infographics are graphic depictions of complex information (e.g., knowledge, data, concepts, ideas, etc.). This medium relies upon visual elements to clearly and concisely communicate complex information to diverse audiences. Infographics use evidence and practice based data, compelling statistics, easy-to-read fonts, complementary colour schemes, simple charts, bold graphs, and other graphics to disseminate information in quick and easily digestible format. Your infographic will disseminate the key findings and implications of your project in a way that effectively communicates with diverse audiences (i.e., media, scientists, non-scientists, non-disciplinary experts, disciplinary experts, policymakers, voters, etc.).

  1. IDENTIFY // What are your key findings and implications (take-home-message)? Use what you have learned in the foundations of this course and your project to find evidence and practice-based data from your course readings, peer-reviewed journal articles, and other quality sources about your topic of choice. Remember, a quality resource should be current, provide authoritative information, be reliable, and have a transparent purpose. Although a different genre from the peer-reviewed article, this is still research. You need to cite your sources. After your readers are captivated by the infographic, citations provide them with additional resources for further reading.
  1. SCOPING // Familiarize yourself with the infographics genre. What makes one infographic more effective or engaging than another? Explore other infographics related to topics we’ve discussed in LFS 350 to better understand which elements, layouts, etc. are important for creating a visually appealing, concise, and clear message. Use examples for inspiration when designing your infographic. Be sure not to copy any content for your infographic – this is a creative endeavour. Here are some examples to kick start your investigation:
  • Inequality in healthy food access

cocofoodaccess.jpg

3. SELECT // You’ve investigated the infographic genre and better understand its elements, layouts, and conventions. Infographics should tell a story, identify causes and issues that are supported by evidence and practice based data, and should have sustainable solutions. A phrase (or short sentence) is all that should be required to concisely communicate the idea, story, or concept of your infographic. Test your topic with a few other peers and ask for feedback regarding clarity and edit as necessary.

4. WRITE // What essential information about your project do you want your readers to understand? What are the most compelling pieces of knowledge about your project? Write down all of the key concepts and compelling information about your selected topic. Your infographic should use visual elements to clearly, concisely, and captivatingly communicate key concepts, essential information, findings, and compelling knowledge to diverse audiences (i.e., media, scientists, non-scientists, non-disciplinary experts, disciplinary experts, policymakers, voters, etc.).

5. SKETCH // Before you begin creating your infographic within the software, it is a useful conceptual exercise to sketch your infographic. What is the story you are going to tell? Will your infographic show the evolution of a piece of the food system, present information, and/or inspire an action? Grab a pen, pencil, crayons, or other writing implements and visually organize your key concepts on paper. Draw a flowchart that shows what order the data should be presented. To be most effective: (a) begin with a compelling title that tells your story or conveys your message, (b) identify the cause or issue of your project (c) present facts and figures that are quality and persuasive, and then (d) discuss the implications and sustainable food systems strategies to address the topic.

Design Tips

  • Read Chapter 4 - Layout Sins from the Whitespace is not your enemy book in Canvas.
  • Font // For graphical cohesion, use no more than two or three different fonts. Remember, any font you use should be very readable.
  • Colour // Choose one or two main colours for the background and one or two main colours for fonts throughout. Shades of your colour selections are acceptable to use. Too many colours make the infographic difficult to read. Use colours that are complementary to one another and (if possible) related to your topic. For example, if you’re displaying concepts about rhubarb’s place in the diet, choose pinks and greens. See “Resources” section for additional color guidance and templates. Also, pay close attention to contrast between background and text. What looks good on a computer screen may not be easy to see once printed.
  • Blank Space // Don’t be tempted to clutter your infographic with icons and graphics. Provide plenty of blank spaces to split up your concepts, differentiate ideas, and increase readability.

Websites with Design Tips

Piktochart Information

INFOGRAPHIC DEVELOPMENT

  1. Go to https://piktochart.com
  2. Sign up for a free account.
  3. Once you are logged in, select “Create New” --> "POSTER" or "FLYER". The dimensions should be either A4 or 8.5x11. Your project should fit on ONE page only (it's a poster).
  4. Explore template option. You can modify an existing template or “Create a New Piktochart” to begin with a blank canvas.
  5. Clean up the template. Delete any text boxes or graphical elements that you do not plan to use.
  6. Edit the remaining text boxes by double-clicking and replacing default text with information (e.g., facts, statistics, headings, etc.) pertinent to your topic.
  7. Searching for new graphical elements in the “Icons” or “Photos” drop-down menus from the left toolbar. Click on the graphic you want to use and resize in the template by dragging the corners (hold SHIFT to maintain ratios).
  8. Create charts and maps by selecting “Tools” from the left toolbar.
  9. To change colours of background or fonts, use paint bucket on the toolbar above the infographic. Use an on-line colour code tool to find specific codes to ensure your colours are consistent throughout your infographic. Colour codes are ways of representing the colours we see everyday in a format that a computer can interpret and display. Commonly used in websites and other software applications, there are a variety of formats, including Hex colour codes, RGB and HSL values, and HTML colour names, among others. You can enter colour codes directly into piktochart. Use a colour palette generator to find specific colour schemes. Simply type the 6 digit colour code in the box above and hit enter.
  10. To change fonts, click “Text” on the left toolbar.

Exporting as PDF

  • With a free account, you can only make 2 high quality downloads. For the DRAFT assignment, simply submit a screenshot so you do not use up one of your downloads.
  • For the final version for PRINTING, select DOWNLOAD --> PDF --> Quality - HIGH
  • Click "Download as PDF"

Additional Piktochart Resources

Creating a Zine

Zine design draws upon similar design principles as infographics, but all within a foldable sheet of 11x17 paper. Visit the Barnard Zine Library for templates, tutorials and inspiration.

source: https://wiki.ubc.ca/Course:LFS350/Infographics