Forms, processes, portals – if you want to find your way through the jungle of authorities, you sometimes need a compass. This is exactly where explainer videos can help: They show in two minutes what nobody else reads to the end.
Whether digital services, new laws or internal processes: videos make abstract topics tangible. And they create something that is often missing in officialese. Proximity.
Why authorities should rely on video now
Today’s citizens expect information to be digital, quick and easy to access. At the same time, many topics are so complex that they can hardly be communicated with text alone.
An explainer videos translates technical language into plain language:
- What does the new online portal mean for me?
- How does the electronic signature work?
- Where can I find the right contact point?
The more clearly and humanely an authority communicates, the greater the trust in its digital offerings – from the ePortal to the EPR.
Why explainer videos are also effective internally
For communication and marketing managers in the administration, it is rarely just about communicating with citizens. A good explanatory video also helps to explain complex projects internally – for example in political committees, in IT or to the management.
It creates a common visual basis on which everyone involved can communicate.
This saves an enormous amount of coordination work, especially in interdisciplinary projects – and ensures that communication is on track right from the start.
How good communication with authorities works in video
A successful government video needs three things:
- Simple language
No flood of paragraphs. No technical terms without explanation. Instead: comprehensible sentences and clear examples. - Clear structure
From problem to solution, with realistic scenes from everyday life.
Citizens should find themselves, not feel lectured to. - Serious, but likeable
Visually, it can be modern, but never too playful.
Clear colors, reduced forms, calm speaker: that conveys competence.
Practical examples
SEM: Diploma recognition explained – step by step
How does the recognition of foreign diplomas work in Switzerland?
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) wanted to make a complex procedure easy to understand for those affected. In the explanatory video, we guide viewers step by step through the process – with clear symbols, a uniform look, a smooth pace and translated into 12 languages.
Federal Chancellery: Votes explained simply
What actually happens between the ballot paper and the result?
For the Federal Chancellery, we have presented the voting process as an animated process – transparent, modern and neutral. The video is regularly shown in the context of federal votes and helps to strengthen trust in democratic processes.
View project
Swiss Parliament: Organization of the Federal Assembly
How is the Swiss parliament structured?
The video explains the structure of the Federal Assembly and shows how the National Council and Council of States work together.
Ideal for schools, political education and citizens who want to know how decisions are made.
View project
Canton of Basel-Stadt: The app for easy living in the city
With the app, Basel-Stadt bundles its most important services digitally – from parking permits to notifications.
The explanatory video shows how easy administrative procedures can be today – short, friendly, visually to the point.
View project
Would you like to know how you can create an explainer video for your administration or office?
On our page
Explainer videos for public authorities & administration
you will find all the information on style, process and costs – especially for public authorities in Switzerland.
How to plan an explainer video project in administration
If you work in a public authority, you know the marathon of coordination between specialist departments, communications and IT. A clear process helps to keep projects lean – and still keep everyone on board.
- Define goal
What is the video supposed to achieve – inform, sensitize, instruct? - Involve stakeholders
Get communication, the specialist department and, if necessary, political bodies on board at an early stage. - Prioritize content
It is better to formulate three messages clearly than to hide ten in one video. - Structuring production
Concept, storyboard, illustrations, soundtrack – all neatly coordinated, with clear approvals for each phase.
Process reliability & compliance
Government projects have their own rules, and that’s a good thing.
That is why we rely on:
- Accessible versions with subtitles and transcripts
- CI-compliant design according to public guidelines
- Transparent approval processes and clean documentation
This ensures that communication is not only understandable, but also complies with the rules.
Conclusion: Comprehensible means close to the people - and efficient
If your administration is communicating digitally but the population (or the management) is not yet fully on board, it is worth taking a look at the form of communication.
A good explainer video is not a luxury. It is a service to people, both internally and externally. It shows that you take transparency seriously and that administration can also be simple.
Schedule a free consultation with our video experts.
Together, we’ll simplify your communication.
