This article details and analyses a workshop conducted with students of the MA in Illustration, Publishing and Printmaking of the University of Porto, Portugal. The workshop explored the articulation of narrative illustration and science communication in order to render complex, COVID-19-related information accessible to a broader public.

It began with a presentation of relevant theories and methodologies of science communication. Students were then invited to respond to three COVID-related briefings on media communication inconsistencies: "Peak Pandemic Oscillations”, “On Tuesdays Cases Rise!” and “Poorly Done Math!”.

Methodologically, participants followed a process of ideation, sketching, and refinement: unpacking statistics and public health messaging, and weaving data-driven insights, creative expression and visual storytelling. The convergence of data and illustration facilitated nuanced interpretations of the pandemic, particularly in respect to the presentation of complex data as a sequential narrative, rather than a single image or chart. The resulting data comics pointed towards an added potential for engaging and informing broader audiences with complex public health information.

Six of the workshop outcomes were presented as part of the exhibition “o_U: an exhibition of meme symptoms and side effects”, presented at Maus Hábitos, a leading cultural intervention center in Porto, Portugal, in March 2024. As a space geared towards a younger clientele, Maus Hábitos has provided an appropriate context for performing the external validation of the workshop outcomes.

The workshop and exhibition are part of the ongoing exploratory project “An Infodemic of Disorientation: communication design as mediator between scientific knowledge and cognitive bias”.

Authors:
Júlio Dolbeth, University of Porto, Portugal
Cláudia Lima, Lusófona University, Portugal
Marta Fernandes, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Portugal
Heitor Alvelos, University of Porto, Portugal

About the Presenter(s)
Assistant Professor at the Design Department  and Researcher at FBAUP.
Integrated Researcher at the Institute for Research in Design Media and Culture (ID+), member of LUME - Unexpected Media Lab

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliodolbeth/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julio-Dolbeth

See this presentation on the full schedule – On Demand Schedule

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