Rich Pictures: Making Complexity Visible
Visualising Strategy & Complex Systems
Communicating complex ideas or processes can be challenging. Even when you understand the details, it can be difficult to convey them clearly to others.
If you need to communicate a vision, map a process, or share a strategy, traditional slides or text-heavy documents may not be enough. I work with clients to create Rich Pictures and Strategic Illustrations that turn complex ideas into clear, structured visuals. These visuals help teams understand key points, engage with ideas, and make informed decisions.
Visual Communication for Complex Ideas
Rich Pictures and Strategic Illustrations provide a way to make complexity visible. By translating information into visual stories, teams can see relationships, identify priorities, and understand processes more easily.
Supporting Strategy, Change, and Collaboration
Whether you are leading organisational change, clarifying a customer journey, or planning a strategic initiative, visual narratives help teams:
Align on objectives and priorities
Share understanding across departments
Engage stakeholders effectively
Learn how a Rich Picture or Strategic Illustration can help your team see the bigger picture and communicate effectively.
Applications in Business and Organisational Contexts
Rich Pictures and Strategic Illustrations can be used in a variety of business contexts:
Customer journeys – Rich Picture mapping customer experience for clearer insights
Patient journeys – Visualising patient processes for healthcare organisations
Process flows – Illustrating complex processes for improved understanding
Strategic visions – Visualising organisational strategies for alignment
Organisational milestones – Highlighting achievements and key initiatives
Theory of change – Transforming abstract concepts into clear visual stories
Each illustration is designed to help teams grasp complexity, improve collaboration, and make decisions with confidence.
Here are a few more RICH PICTURE examples to inspire you…
AEP - Spanish Society of Paediatrics
Comic story demystifying childhood meningitis.
Healthcare Sector
Rich picture diagram describing a Geriatric Diabetes Patient profile. Created after a series of workshops with Healthcare Professionals.
MOSABI - Theory of Change
An illustrated version of Mosabi’s Theory of Change
WILPF - collaboration with Fuselight Creative
This rich picture was used as a Landing Page Image for a Resources Hub for WILPF.
University of Vienna
Rich picture illustration created for a citizen science project around heat in the street.
SEC - Spanish Society of Cardiologists
Rich picture illustration created from a video class around exercise and type two diabetes.
And here’s a bigger Rich Picture project example…
CoAct for Mental Health
This was such an inspiring project. Teaming up with Open Systems - University of Barcelona, we created a visual timeline of a Citizen Science Project around mental health. This wasn't just a project; it was a journey, a story of resilience, collaboration, and hope with co-researchers using their experiences to fuel a support network via an app.
We also created this really cool flip book!! Take a Look 👀
I’m happy when my clients are happy☺️
“The OpenSystems group of the University of Barcelona has been on this incredible journey with Verity since 2015. From grappling with complex concepts at citizen science events to illustrating an international project for the Horizon 2020 program, Verity's expertise has been nothing short of transformative.
Her knack for listening, understanding, and then visually narrating our story has been pivotal. Plus, her sensitivity to social issues and her innovative spirit have made our collaboration not just productive but truly enjoyable. Here's to many more years of creating magic together! “
— Isabelle Bonhoure PhD - Coordinator and Researcher OpenSystems Universitat de Barcelona
So if you’re wondering how Rich Pictures come together - I did a little process rich picture diagram for you…
Got a project idea? Let’s have a chat about it!
and here’s another Rich Picture example
A Strategic Vision
And another visual roadmap - they are so versatile!! In this example the client WILPF wanted a retrospective of their strategic plan and we used the roadmap to show the journey they had taken. This project was done in collaboration with Fuselight Creative®.
