Labelling knowledge initiative: What does the literature tell us about information design on labels?

As part of the Labelling knowledge project, the EU Policy Lab conducted an exploratory literature review to better understand the state of evidence-based information design on labels.  

 Do you want to know where this initiative comes from? Read our previous blog post, Labelling Knowledge initiative: Reflecting on policy instruments. 

See the full literature review here

What did we do?

We analysed 39 publications on label design, compiled a digital bibliography of 218 publications, and created a poster to present the seven practices as recommendations.  

A digital space to explore the visual evidence 

We created a digital platform that brings together 218 publications on the design of information on labels, including the visuals they designed or used in these research projects. The Joint Research Centre’s Advanced Computing & ICT Services team and the EU Policy Lab collaborated to explore ways to produce more visual outputs using the available digital resources.   

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This platform provides a useful resource for policymakers working on, or planning to design or apply, labels as policy instruments. It allows them to explore the topic, consult scientific knowledge, and learn from existing experiences through their own lens and needs.  

Seven practices to improve label effectiveness 

The results emphasise the need to consider the actions people must take when designing labels, with a focus on the context and moment when they must use the label. This approach can help policymakers create more effective labels that achieve their intended goals. We identified seven practices to improve the use of labels as policy tools.  

1. defining the intended actions of people,  
2. basing design processes on observable actions,  
3. involving all stakeholders,  
4. integrating labels into larger information campaigns,  
5. selecting appropriate methods and relevant evaluation criteria,  
6. monitoring performance,  
7. publishing experiences. 

By following these practices, policymakers can increase the effectiveness of labels and achieve their policy objectives. 

A printed labelling knowledge kit (mapping, poster, article) will be sent to policymakers working on labelling to start a conversation about the use of labels as policy instruments at the European Commission.  

The review also reveals gaps in the literature on the monitoring and evaluation of labels, as well as on the quality of reporting and publications, where the visual material used in these studies is often missing or incomplete. 

Next steps 

This exploratory literature review contributes to evidence-based policymaking on labelling at the European Commission. These findings and discussions informed internal labelling project processes and provided content for designing engagement tools to raise awareness of this topic. 

In the coming years, the Labelling Knowledge initiative will continue to support the Commission’s policymaking process on labelling while using this rich case to investigate policy coherence and the design of effective policy instruments to forward the EU Policy Lab’s innovative policymaking mission.