Reframe: Diverse images for healthcare

About the project

The project aims to address the significant lack of visual representation and diversity in healthcare images, particularly for individuals from marginalised communities.

The project's objectives are:

• To photograph a wide range of medical conditions on diverse skin tones, creating a more comprehensive and inclusive visual representation.
• To photograph individuals from underrepresented communities, including Black, Asian, and global majority populations, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people with disabilities, in various healthcare settings.
• To co-produce an open-access, digital library of images that's accessible to everyone, providing a valuable resource for medical professionals, educators, and the public.

Progress and achievements

Since its launch 18 months ago, the project has made substantial strides toward achieving its goals. During this time, the team has conducted six community photoshoots, involving a diverse range of participants. These events, carried out in collaboration with key communities, aimed to capture the nuances of various medical conditions across different skin tones.

The project has also successfully partnered with two GP surgeries, Lawrence Hill Health Centre and Horfield Health Centre, where two additional photoshoots were conducted, contributing to a growing collection of medical images.

In total, the project has photographed over 120 individuals as part of its first strand. Additionally, 38 participants from Black, Asian, global majority, LGBTQIA+, and disabled communities have been photographed in healthcare settings, contributing to the second strand. Together, these efforts have produced over 2,000 photographs, creating a rich repository of inclusive imagery.

In terms of partnerships, the project has formed valuable collaborations with organisations such as the British Skin Foundation. It's also in the process of establishing partnerships with the British Association of Dermatologists and the UK Health Security Agency. These collaborations are vital for expanding the reach and impact of the project and ensuring that the final image library is robust, accurate, and widely recognised.

Next steps

As the project enters its final six-months, the focus is shifting toward achieving the third objective—creating and launching a free, open-access digital library of images. This phase is critical for ensuring that the project's work is accessible to healthcare providers, educators, and the public at large. To achieve this, the following key activities will be prioritised:

• Development of an Asset Management System: A robust system will be designed to catalogue and manage the extensive collection of images.
• Content uploading and system testing: Images will be systematically uploaded, and the system will undergo testing to ensure functionality, accessibility, and a user-friendly interface.
• Marketing and launch: A comprehensive marketing strategy will be developed to promote the launch of the digital library, ensuring it reaches its intended audience and fulfils its role as a valuable healthcare resource.

Community engagement and collaboration

A key factor in the project's success to date has been its commitment to community engagement and collaboration. From the outset, the team has worked closely with key communities, gathering feedback on everything from marketing materials to event promotion. This approach ensures that the project not only meets its objectives but also reflects the voices and needs of those it aims to serve. 

Meet the project team