Object, Process or Concept?

Most illustrations convey information about a person, place, or thing, one of three ways. These three modes of communication have a big influence on what the illustration communicates, often much more than the style of the illustration


They are either illustrations of OBJECTS, or what things ARE…

or illustrations of PROCESS, or what things DO…

or illustrations of CONCEPTS, or what things might STAND FOR…

or they can be combinations, such as OBJECT / PROCESS…

or OBJECT / CONCEPT…

or  OBJECT / PROCESS / CONCEPT…

Style comes into play where it supports the OBJECT / PROCESS or CONCEPT mode of message communication.