A rich picture is a visual tool used to explore and communicate complex situations, systems, or problems in an intuitive and engaging way. It combines drawings, symbols, words, and sketches to represent different elements, perspectives, and relationships within a particular context. Unlike technical diagrams, rich pictures are informal and expressive, allowing for creativity and personal interpretation.
Rich pictures originated in the field of systems thinking and are often used in the early stages of project planning, problem-solving, or evaluation. They help stakeholders, regardless of their technical background, understand and reflect on the broader environment of a situation, including human, political, cultural, and emotional dimensions.
Key features of rich pictures include: #
- Holistic view: Rich pictures capture the “big picture” including people, processes, relationships, and conflicts.
- Multiple perspectives: They represent the views of different stakeholders within one image.
- Non-linear representation: They emphasize connections and interactions over sequence or hierarchy.
Uses and benefits of rich pictures: #
- Rich pictures encourage discussion and shared understanding among diverse groups.
- They help in identifying areas of concern, uncertainty, or disagreement.
- They serve as a foundation for deeper analysis, design, or intervention planning.
There are no strict rules for creating a rich picture—it’s about expressing understanding through imagery. The emphasis is on meaning and connection, not artistic quality.
Rich pictures are, thus, a flexible, user-friendly method for visually capturing complexity, making it easier to analyze situations and engage people in collaborative thinking and planning.
List of recommended resources #
For a broad overview #
Rich Picture Analysis – A Brief Overview
This manual by Squarespace gives a brief overview of what rich pictures are, their uses as well as how to create them. A simple example is provided to clearly illustrate their use.
This playlist by OpenLearn from The Open University gives a tutorial on various aspects of rich pictures, how they can aid in communication as well as help in businesses along with everyday and personal lives. This collection of films explores the concept of rich pictures and the many ways images have evolved into communication tools.
For in-depth understanding #
This chapter written by Pete Barbrook-Johnson and Alexandra S. Penn from the book Systems Mapping introduces readers to Rich Pictures and to the broader approach from which the concept of rich pictures emerged–Soft Systems Methodology. Barbrook-Johnson and Penn give an overview of the history of rich pictures as well as how to get started with using them.
The ‘Rich Pictures’ Method: Its Use and Value, and the Implications for HRD Research and Practice
This research article by Alison Gisby, Catharine Ross, Jan Francis-Smythe, and Kazia Anderson examines the application and benefits of using rich pictures—a technique rooted in soft systems methodology that has increasingly found relevance in fields such as health, education, and medicine. The paper seeks to raise awareness about this often-overlooked method and highlights its potential value for Human Resource Development (HRD) research, particularly in exploring aspects of human development.
Case study #
Towards an Understanding of Rich Picture Interpretation
This paper by Simon Bell, Tessa Berg, and Steve Morse aims to investigate the maximum learning potential from rich pictures. The authors have developed and used a form of Content Analysis called Educative Interpretation specifically for rich pictures.
Using a ‘rich picture’ to facilitate systems thinking in research coproduction
This paper by Kathleen Conte and Seanna Davidson explains how the authors developed and applied a ‘rich picture’ in a coproduction project with policy-level partners.
References #
Using Rich Pictures to Explore Perspectives in Your Change Initiative
