Nobody is born knowing how to speak. We all had to learn how to speak the language that our parents and peers could understand. We’ve had to adopt planning jargons and some of us may have had to learn a completely new language to have even a shot at professional development.
So don’t despair that you’re here needing resources to help you tell the story of your project. Even I click on these resources to help me refine what I’m teaching you here. So let’s get started.
Before you even get to the interview or committee— Matt Handal’s Help Everybody Everyday was a refuge for many a A/E/C proposal process. He’s got great tips on time management, helping your co-colleagues (and bosses) understand what needs and doesn’t need to be in a presentation and also how to find all the files you need to make sure you get a flying chance at interviewing for even the most sought after building projects.
Once you get to the planning committee— Steve Ramos of Buildings are Cool has a great survival sheet for failing and returning to the planning committee with new plans. Because you may draw something awesome. But you have to sell it to people outside of your office, who don’t understand that fenestration is really just windows.
For the community groups, academic classes or meetings or anybody else that needs and wants to hear the story of your project, in a clear and understandable way— My (Kristen Jeffers) six tips on making sure you tell the story right.
When it comes to creating the atmosphere and the tone of the community meeting— This CityLab article is a good place to start.
For making things look pretty— Brian Paul Kelly has a great ebook for that.
For fonts— Font Squirrel. The fonts are all free for commercial use.
For graphics and images— The Noun Project, Flickr. Both have free and Creative Commons options I got the blueprint in the header from them!
For social and some old school media guidance— My guide Using Media and Other Personalized Communication to Advance Community Design and my checklist Community Design Communciation Checklist.
Want more resources like this directly in your email? Drop your email address in below. Other questions? Email me directly.