Visual Communication of Research through Video and Images
The Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design at Aalborg University
Welcome to Visual Communication of Research through Video and Images
Description: This course equips PhD researchers from all disciplines with the foundational skills to plan, capture, and edit compelling visual narratives of their work, addressing the growing expectation from journals and conferences for video and image-based explanations of dynamic systems and complex results. Through a blend of focused lectures and hands-on exercises, students learn to storyboard and script their ideas, master basic principles of framing, lighting, audio, and motion, integrate data visualization into moving media, handle editing and post-production workflows, consider accessibility and ethical presentation, and prepare assets for effective dissemination.
The core of the course is project-based: each student develops and iteratively refines a visual communication piece centered on a research project of their choice, culminating in a final deliverable in the form of a short video and/or detailed storyboard. Evaluation is based on the clarity and impact of that final project, the demonstration of applied techniques, and the reflective development process. By the end of this course, students will have edited a short video and gained a toolbox of practices and principles to enhance the reach and intelligibility of their future research communication.
Prerequisites: None
Learning objectives: By the end of the course, students will be able to identify the key components of effective visual communication and describe the video production process, including planning, shooting, and editing. They will apply techniques such as storyboarding, framing, pacing, and narration to communicate their own research projects clearly and ethically through video or images. Students will be able to critique visual materials using established principles, justify their design decisions, and adapt their skills to future research contexts. Ultimately, they will leave the course with both a completed visual communication piece and a transferable toolbox of methods for enhancing the clarity and impact of their research dissemination.
For additional information, updates, and registration, please refer to AAU PhD Moodle via the link provided on the right side of this page.