Edinburgh Napier University

  This chapter explores the diverse ways that academic researchers reimagine, capture, and disseminate their research using visual methods.

In this chapter we benefit from the expertise of five unique research projects that have employed innovative visual methods. These include Multimodal-Mythological Discourse Analysis (MDMA) (Yannopoulou, Chandrasapth and Kelsey, 2024), Videography (Cléret, 2024; Jones, Cronin, and Piacentini, 2024), community exhibitions and arts-based methods (risographs, visual illustrations, word trees etc.) (Porteous, Wilson and Hamilton, 2024), stagecraft and performance (McFarlane, 2024). Each project offers behind the scenes insight into the brief study background, the research and visual methods used, the method of dissemination and rationale for this choice and, the process of engaging in dissemination acknowledging any challenges experienced.

The benefits of the dissemination process for academic researchers are introduced including successful conference presentation and publication in esteemed peer-reviewed academic journal articles, industry collaborations as well as miscellaneous unexpected opportunities that arise when interacting publicly. We hope to inspire new ways of imagining how we communicate our work visually and address any hesitation within the academic community to connect with audiences that do not always seem to directly benefit from the research findings.