❝Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.❞ - Nat Turner.

Charlotte Greenwood, Illustration and Visual Media

Although I think of myself as an artist and photographer rather than an illustrator, I am aware of the impact my studies have had on my practice. Studying illustration has made me realise the significance of good communication and has altered my thought process and the way that I approach a project. As communication is the soul of my practice, it is important for me to consider what the role of communicators is in society.

In the words of Theo Haimann, ❝Communication is the process of passing information and understanding from one person to another... It is the process of imparting ideas and making oneself understood by others.❞

To determine what the role of communicators is in society, we can examine the functions of communication. From my research, I discovered that these are:

• Informing.
• Persuading.
• Problem solving.
• Relationship/Network building.
• Reducing misunderstanding.

(The Business Communication)

We can also investigate the responsibilities of a communicator to determine this. In Communication for Business Professionals (2018), David Simon, Michelle Grimes, and Shauna Roch explain that these include:

• Selecting a topic that is appropriate to your audience, gathering enough information to cover a topic well and putting it into a logical sequence, and considering how best to present your information.
• Considering how to link your main points together for your audience so they can follow your message from point to point.
• Having a clear idea in your mind of what you want to say so that you can say it clearly to your audience.
• Keeping your communication concise - brief and to the point.

The Role of Communicators in Society in Relation to My Practice:
The message that I am trying to communicate through my art can be summarised as: human actions are destroying the environment and we need to change our ways. Therefore, I think that my role as a communicator in society is:

• To share facts and information about environmental issues in order to raise awareness.
• To use non-verbal (visual) communication over verbal (oral or written) in order to make information accessible to a larger audience as visuals are not language-specific.
• Making complex issues comprehendible.
• Solving problems. By promoting understanding and making people aware of the issues, more people are able to offer solutions to them. Furthermore, the more people that are aware of a problem, the more that can be done about it. ❝Together we are stronger, our voices louder, and the synergy of our actions more powerful.❞ - Pierce Brosnan.
• To reduce misunderstanding. People are given access to the facts about environmental issues.
• Promoting sustainable living.
• Creating relationships and building a network of environmentally conscious and sustainable people and consequently making a more eco-friendly society.
• Persuading people to change their ways or get behind a cause by using visuals to trigger emotional responses, encourage environmental empathy, and instil an appreciation for nature within people.

References:

1. The Business Communication. (n.d.). What is Communication? Functions of Communication. Available at: https://thebusinesscommunication.com/what-is-communication-functions-of-communication/. Accessed: 27/03/2020.
2. Grimes, M. Roch, S. Simon, D. (2018). Communication for Business Professionals. Ontario, Canada: eCampus Ontario. Available at: https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/commbusprofcdn/.