What is Wellcome Policy Lab?

"Led by the Policy Team, Policy Lab provides a space to experiment with new approaches to policy to drive greater creativity and impact in the way that we do policy work.... 

In 2023, we launched Wellcome Policy Lab with a global search for partners to pilot imaginative, experimental and ambitious tools that push the boundaries of how policy is usually done. We wanted to learn from their work and use it to inspire creativity in Wellcome’s policy work in the future. 

Since then, we’ve worked with four partners to experiment with a range of creative policy approaches. 

1. Collaborative mosaic-making to visualise and explore complex policy issues

Scientia Scripta led a coalition of partners to trial collaborative mosaic-making to help visualise policy challenges and problems in more creative ways.

Read the report on mosaic-making in policy

Watch a video to learn more about mosaic-making in policy:

2. A ‘Tomorrow Party’ to imagine new futures to unlock new policy solutions

Monash University researchers developed a futures method called the Tomorrow Party. Using innovative props and ‘party’ inspired accessories, participants co-created an experience that invited them to picture and describe different futures.

Read the report on party methods in policy

Watch a video to learn more about party methods in policy:

3. Serious games and simulation to understand people’s lived experiences of health policy and systems

Thumbi Labs and the Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy have piloted the use of a storytelling game and simulation to inform policy discussions on local governance and mental health in India.

Read the report on serious games in policy

Watch a video to learn more about serious games in policy:

4. Humour and circus arts to explore how ‘serious fun’ can foster new thinking within policy dialogues

Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre led an interdisciplinary team to evaluate different ways to harness humour and circus arts to help reshape policy dialogues relating to climate change and mental health.

Read the report on humour and circus arts in policy

Watch a video to learn more about humour and circus arts in policy:

In early 2024, we hosted a Policy Lab Festival at the Design Museum in London to share learning from the pilots and bring together a community of organisations that are championing creative approaches to policy...."