Event Recap: AEC Award Submissions
SMPS Connecticut presented a panel discussion on AEC Industry Award Submissions moderated by Cathy DeFrances, CPSM, Associate / Director of Business Development | Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience, LLC. Speakers at the Wednesday March 14 afternoon event in Unionville included:
- Theresa M. Casey, FSMPS, CPSM, President/CEO, On Target Marketing & Communications LLC
- Kevin Herrick, AIA, Principal, The S/L/A/M Collaborative
- Susan Labas, CPSM, Senior Associate and Director of Marketing, van Zelm Engineers
The panel discussed a number of relevant topics, sharing their insight and knowledge with attendees. There was a good turnout and the food was excellent!
First steps in submitting for an award:
- Look at the criteria and select the project that best suits the competition.
- Start early, up to a year in advance, and track project metrics.
- Select awards programs and publications that will support your target markets.
- Determine what information you need to gather from the project.
- To identify awards programs, look at what your competitors are doing and ask your clients and consultants.
Getting the whole team on board:
- Be creative! Strategize, give it a theme, and include photography.
- Develop a story. Talk to as many people as you can who are involved with the project.
- Step back, and tell the whole story. The judge is not going to be familiar with your project.
Review of winning project submissions:
- Don’t underestimate the small projects. Those win more than their share of awards.
- Supplemental information can make a big difference, such as letters of recommendation.
- Tell the story with photos, layout, and supporting materials.
- Follow the criteria and structure of the awards.
Additional tips:
- Ask for a debrief when you don’t win. Lessons learned.
- Use large, professional photos and label them.
- The level of quality and care in submissions is rising each year.
- Submit a blend of visuals and text and detail the images to tell the story.
- Entries are judged on the submittal criteria over the design of the piece.
- Follow the word and page count criteria, fitting extra information within the limits.
- Nobody counts the photo captions. These could be used as extra words.
- Take advantage of available award FAQs and webinars.