How to make the most of an award

It’s such a great achievement when one of your projects is awarded. All that hard work - sometimes over many years - has finally been recognised. It’s also a great way to have your work validated by a trusted third party and lift your profile. So how do you make the most of an award so you can reach new clients and customers?

First and foremost, here’s something I’d like you to remember: it isn’t just about showing your peers your achievements. That’s important, but it’s not everything.

To get the most out of an award, it’s necessary to think about how you can get not only the message about the award out there, but also the story behind the project. Because it is the story that people will relate to and remember.

Before you start promoting it, I suggest you think about shaping the story of your project so that it reaches your intended audience - your future clients and customers. Consider these questions to get you started

• How did the project first come about?

• What processes did you undertake throughout the design and planning that influenced or impacted the end result?

• Why were particular materials used and how do they relate to the story?

• Were there times throughout the project that were challenging? How did you overcome those challenges?

• How has the end result impacted the client, customer, end user or wider community?

• Has the project forever changed how projects like it will be designed in the future?

Once you’ve settled on your project’s story (and there could be more than one), think about who you can pitch that story to so that your ideal clients and customers see it.

But if this all sounds a bit overwhelming, remember we’re here to help. We can work with you to create that story or help you understand how you can pitch it to the media. Feel free to contact us for a free half hour phone or zoom consultation.