Pictures, people and power: people-centred visual aids for development

The first section of this book is an excellent introduction to the findings of research on visual literacy in various parts of the world. The traditional perspective of visual literacy among neo-literate people, that pictures should be designed only in a way that people can already comprehend, is shown to be limiting. By contrast the author shows how visual materials can be liberating, helping to extend people's visual literacy by building on their existing skills. A distinction is made between 'bottom-up, people-centred' approaches and top-down design processes. The book is intended as a practical guide for all those who use or design visual aids.