Technical Jargon to Everyday Language: Award-Winning Submission

Content Strategist

Content Writer

Ghostwriter

Overview

Written and submitted for the 2022 Consulting Engineers of Alberta Awards, this submission showcased the innovative engineering behind the Crowchild Trail Bridge Rehabilitation Project. Written on behalf of two Project Managers from the Owner’s Engineer team, it aimed to highlight their contributions and innovations while making complex technical content accessible to a broader audience.

Objective The primary goal was to secure industry recognition for the client's role in this significant infrastructure project. The submission needed to clearly articulate the engineering achievements and celebrate the extensive efforts that contributed to this important rehabilitation initiative.

Strategy and Approach Writing award submissions requires a strategic approach to ensure the content is both engaging and straightforward. By understanding the submission criteria, I shaped the narrative to resemble a product description, emphasizing how the project benefited the city of Calgary. Headlines and sections highlighted the development of engineering solutions tailored to the community’s needs, focusing on both innovation and the positive impact to the community.

Audience Consideration Recognizing that the judging panel likely included non-engineers, it was essential to translate complex technical jargon into accessible language. This strategy ensured that all readers, regardless of their technical background, could comprehend and appreciate the significance of the work.

Translating Technical Jargon A major challenge was converting highly technical engineering terms and concepts into everyday language while preserving the project’s depth. Close collaboration with the Project Managers allowed me to gather their technical notes and bullet points, which I then reworked into plain language. This process required thorough research and consultation to ensure accuracy while maintaining readability.

Use of Visual Materials Visuals played a crucial role in enhancing the submission. I sourced and recommended images that illustrated the project's technical aspects, ensuring the submission was informative and visually appealing.

Inclusion of a Summary To ensure clarity and comprehensive coverage of all criteria points, a summary outlined how each requirement was met within the submission. This not only guided the judges but also increased the likelihood of a favorable evaluation.