Rich Pictures and Visual Summaries: 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 Visual Summaries that turn complex ideas into clear, structured visuals. These visuals help the viewers understand key points, engage with ideas, and make informed decisions.
Visual Communication for Complex Ideas and Engagement
Rich Pictures and Visual Summaries provide a way to make complexity visible. By translating information into visual stories, teams can see relationships, identify priorities, and understand processes more easily.
But not only that.. using visuals to explain just about ANYTHING will make the information much more accessible and break down barriers to understanding.
Supporting Strategy, Change, and Collaboration
Whether you are leading organisational change, clarifying a customer or patient journey, planning a strategic initiative, or maybe you just want to communicate a vision or a journey you have been on, a visual narratives will help to:
Align on objectives and priorities
Share understanding
Engage stakeholders effectively
Engage target audiences
Tell your story effectively
Learn how a Visual Summary Illustration can help your team see the bigger picture and communicate effectively.
Applications in Business and Organisational Contexts
Rich Pictures and Visual Summaries 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 visual summary 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 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 visual summary 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®.
Got a Project Brewing? Let's turn that idea of yours into a rich picture that speaks louder than words. Because, why tell when you can show?
I need a few details so I’ve created a nice form for you, and then we can have a chat! 🌟
I have a nice Newsletter..
Hi, I’m Verity
Originally from the UK and based in Spain for over 25 years. I work as a Live Illustrator and Visual Facilitator collaborating with clients in Spain, Europe and the rest of the world. I am bilingual and work in both English (mother tongue) and Spanish.
I help clients by using visuals as sense-making tools to bring clarity to their ideas and messages.
Naturally curious about everything I’m happy to work on just about any subject, my specialities being sustainability, renewable energy, social innovation, citizen science, social change, diversity and inclusion and healthcare.
Copyright © 2025 Verity Harrison All Rights Reserved.