Mind The Gap!
Behind every effective model lies a careful balance between clarity and constraint—what’s shown, what’s left out, and what it all means. For Danny Kalkhoven, Business Analyst and trainer at ilionX, this act of modelling has surprising parallels with photography. Both aim to capture reality, but neither can ever tell the whole story.
Ahead of his session “Mind the Gap!” at the Business Analysis Conference Europe 2025, we caught up with Danny to hear how 20 years of experience—and a passion for visual thinking—have shaped his approach to modelling.
In the conversation below, Danny reflects on where photography and BA overlap, what makes models truly useful, and why staying grounded in reality matters more than perfect visuals.
1. Framing the Picture
Your session draws a parallel between photography and business analysis. How did that connection first come to you — and how has it influenced your approach to modelling?
The connection has always been there in the back of my mind, I suppose. But when I started thinking about “the act of modelling” it became clear when I noticed the parallel between the two activities. Both deal with the real world and the challenge of presenting whatever you think is important in that real world to the audience.
Both photography and BA-modelling take a slice out of reality to tell the story, you could say. By highlighting that slice of reality, the message is presented.
But, business analysts have a big advantage over most photographers, as they can use the model to get feedback and subsequently adjust it!
2. All Models Are Wrong…
You quote George Box: “All models are wrong, but some are useful.” In your experience, what makes the difference between a “wrong and useless” model and one that truly adds value?
There is only one quality that matters: usability. A model is never the “end product”; it’s nothing more and nothing less than the tool to analyse and communicate about the real world, the situation that the BA was asked to help with.
3. The Beauty Trap
You mention that even the “most beautiful” model only captures a fraction of reality. How can BAs resist the temptation to prioritise aesthetics over insight?
That is a difficult one! Sometimes a model gives you a great insight into the matter at hand, and really helps in clarifying the problem. So you are tempted to think that it’s perfect in showing the necessary information. But then you have to realise: “that is what I myself see in the model, but what does the audience see?”. Sometimes you are surprised to hear what others see (or don’t see) in it.
4. Minimalism in Focus
You use a pinhole camera in your photography — a tool that strips things down to the essentials. How does that mindset translate to your BA work?
I have learned that the tools we use are far less important than we think. Just as with my session last year at BA2024, I want to encourage my colleagues that they can achieve great results without fancy tools. The right mindset and focus to communicate the message (and get feedback) is the essential quality.
That doesn’t mean that I reject nice drawing applications! But you always have to ask yourself: “What do I want to show, which part of the real world is relevant and needs to be shown in the model?”. That is far more important than a perfect horizontal line or even spacing between boxes.
5. Your Hope for Attendees
What’s the one shift in perspective you hope attendees will walk away with after your session?
Never fall in love with a great-looking model.
Always try to keep the connection to the real world, which doesn’t stick to the rules.
Join Danny Kalkhoven at the Business Analysis Conference Europe 2025
🗓 Tuesday, 16 September 2025 | 🕛 12:15 – 12:35 BST
📍 Convene 133 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7DB
🎤 Mind the Gap!
Photography and business analysis have more in common than you think. In this fast-paced session, Danny Kalkhoven explores how models—like photos—capture reality, but never the whole picture. Learn why embracing imperfection and “minding the gap” is the key to creating models that are truly useful.
