Combining design-driven innovation with plain language to improve warning communication

Ongoing climate change requires increased efforts to communicate the risks associated with extreme weather conditions. Warning communication efforts have thus shifted towards promoting relevant protective actions. For example, the Norwegian Meteorological institute combines a specific colour with icons depicting the hazard and a short text describing the weather, the impact and the relevant advice. A recent design-driven innovation process combined user insight with writing workshops to improve the warning message. Here, we use the plain language principles as an analytical lens to interrogate how proposed changes to the warning message may support the public to use the information for protective actions. We find that different structural changes to the warning text mediate distinct aspects of plain language. The revised warnings can support a shared situational awareness among the preparedness actors involved in a severe weather event. We see a combination of opportunity and prepared minds as key to successful implementation.