Komunikasi Visual dalam Sistem Informasi Lingkungan Digital untuk Meningkatkan Kesadaran Ekologi di Kalangan Masyarakat Medan Sunggal

Authors

  • Dybio Asih Universitas Wirahusada Medan
  • Dede Ardian Tarigan Universitas Wirahusada Medan
  • Jasael Simanullang Universitas Wirahusada Medan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37950/joc.v5i1.655

Abstract

This study aims to understand how visual communication in digital environmental information systems contributes to the development of ecological awareness among the Medan Sunggal community. This study focuses on the phenomenon of communication of meaning construction through visual elements in digital platforms used to disseminate environmental information. A qualitative research design was used by conducting in-depth interviews with community members and analyzing the visual content of digital environmental information systems, including infographics, symbols, color usage, and visual narratives. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns in user interpretation, understanding, and perceived relevance of visual communication. The results show that visual elements that reflect local context, simplicity, and symbolic clarity play an important role in enhancing message comprehension and fostering ecological awareness. Digital environmental information systems function not only as information providers but also as communicative spaces where visual design mediates public understanding of environmental issues. This study is limited to a specific local environment and does not measure long-term behavioral outcomes, suggesting that future research should examine the impact of behavior or comparative cultural contexts. The originality of this study lies in its focus on local visual communication practices in digital environmental information systems, which offers valuable insights into applied communication strategies that integrate cultural context and visual meaning-making to support environmental awareness initiatives.

References

Cox, R. (2010). Environmental communication and the public sphere (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.

D’Ignazio, C., & Klein, L. F. (2020). Data feminism. MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/11805.001.0001

Elgammal, A., Liu, B., Elhoseiny, M., & Mazzone, M. (2021). Creative visual communication in digital environments: A computational perspective. Leonardo, 54(4), 391–398. https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_01942

Figueroa, M. E., Kincaid, D. L., Rani, M., & Lewis, G. (2022). Communication for social change revisited. Journal of Communication, 72(3), 321–344. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqac008

Gibbons, S. (2022). Visual hierarchy in UX design. Journal of Usability Studies, 17(3), 145–158.

Hall, S. (1997). Representation: Cultural representations and signifying practices. Sage Publications.

Hidalgo-Ruz, V., & Thiel, M. (2021). Distribution and communication of environmental information in digital media. Environmental Communication, 15(4), 512–527. https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2020.1865563

Knaflic, S. N. (2020). Storytelling with data: Let’s practice!. Wiley.

Kress, G., & van Leeuwen, T. (2006). Reading images: The grammar of visual design (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Lazard, A. J., & Atkinson, L. (2021). Putting environmental visuals into practice. Environmental Communication, 15(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2020.1812765

Lupton, D. (2020). Digital media and environmental engagement. Media, Culture & Society, 42(6), 902–918. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443720910414

McQuail, D. (2019). McQuail’s media and mass communication theory (7th ed.). Sage Publications.

Meyer, M., Sedlmair, M., & Munzner, T. (2020). Criteria for rigor in visualization design study. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 26(1), 87–97. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2019.2934259

Nisbet, M. C. (2009). Communicating climate change. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 35(5), 501–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2008.08.036

O’Neill, S., & Smith, N. (2021). Climate change and visual imagery. WIREs Climate Change, 12(2), e715. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.715

Pink, S., Horst, H., Postill, J., Hjorth, L., Lewis, T., & Tacchi, J. (2016). Digital ethnography: Principles and practice. Sage Publications.

Rieh, S. Y., & Hilligoss, B. (2020). Information literacy and credibility in digital environments. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 71(9), 1051–1066. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.24353

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). Free Press.

Schneider, F., & Buser, T. (2022). Environmental awareness through digital platforms. Sustainability, 14(3), Article 1459. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031459

Sheppard, S. R. J. (2021). Visualizing climate change. Climatic Change, 163, 123–140. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-020-02969-6

Scolari, C. A. (2020). Beyond visual communication. Communication Theory, 30(4), 452–471. https://doi.org/10.1093/ct/qtaa014

Tufte, E. R. (2001). The visual display of quantitative information (2nd ed.). Graphics Press.

UNESCO. (2021). Media and information literacy: Policy and strategy guidelines. UNESCO Publishing.

van Dijck, J., Poell, T., & de Waal, M. (2018). The platform society. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190889760.001.0001

Visser, P. S., & Mirabile, R. R. (2022). Attitudes in environmental communication. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 50(2), 163–181. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2022.2031904

Zhang, X., & Wu, Y. (2023). Visual storytelling for environmental sustainability. Information Visualization, 22(1), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.1177/14738716221122761

Downloads

Published

2026-05-19

Issue

Section

Articles