When it comes to explaining telecoms technology and how it benefits society and the environment, art may not be the obvious medium of expression. But that is exactly what students at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Kiev, Ukraine, did when challenged to visualize how Ericsson technologies are helping to solve global, social and environmental problems. So do their pictures paint a thousand words?

Not everyone is fully aware of the sustainability initiatives they can get involved in and support. Arranging creative events such as the recent art contest in Ukraine is one way of increasing awareness about sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Alla Fast, an Ericsson HR manager in Ukraine and one of the art contest’s organizers, says: "Those involved in art have a different way of thinking. These people absorb information quickly and are flexible, so it was interesting to see how they view Ericsson."

The artists were asked to illustrate how the use of Ericsson technologies is helping to solve global, social and environmental issues. The contest included 21 paintings produced and exhibited online, as well as in a showroom in Ukraine. Professionals from the art academy helped judge the art.

Ekaterina Akimenkova, winner of the oil-painting category, says: "It was very interesting to work on this project. In this case, art helps people understand complicated things through simple images and illustrations. Such an approach opens wider horizons for modern society."

Nikolay Kornilov, winner of the contest's graphics category, says: "I was surprised when I learned that Ericsson is using its technologies to address social needs and global ecological problems," he says.

Through his painting, "Ericsson Global," Kornilov says his intention was to show how Ericsson is helping to save people’s lives.

This art project has helped increase awareness of global sustainability issues among the academy's student community, while simultaneously delivering important messages to the colleagues, friends and families of those involved.

This unexpected avenue of communication makes the content more interesting. "We have always been overly 'technical' in delivering messages," Fast says. "We want to raise awareness about these initiatives, and our art project has helped deliver Ericsson's message in a new way."