Diaries are underrated.
Today, we often rely on photos to capture key moments: selfies, fancy meals, beautiful sunsets, t and family milestones.
Don’t get me wrong. I love photos. We have a digital display at our house that shows hundreds of family photos from over the years.
But photos don’t always provide the context—the details that bring a scene back to life.
Some of the most memorable books in history are written in diary form because personal details and reflections help readers connect emotionally with the experience.
That’s true for Architecture/Engineering/Construction firms, too.
Project photos, especially before-and-after images, are valuable. But they don’t always capture the human element: the challenge solved, the client reaction, the unexpected moment that made the project memorable.
Rediscovering a Travel Diary
My family recently found a small diary I kept during a trip to New York City in March 2007. In it, I wrote about taking the express elevator at the Empire State Building because my son worked there at the time. I wrote about visiting the early World Trade Center memorial and reading heartbreaking letters from children who lost parents on 9/11.
I described delicious meals, and I wrote about two construction workers from the Bronx who asked where we were from.
When we said, “Wisconsin,” they replied, “You have cheese.”
I remember those details because I wrote them down.
Next month, I’m returning to New York City with my daughter and granddaughter. The highlight will be seeing “Hamilton.” There’s still room in my little diary, and I plan to add more memories from this trip.
What A/E/C Firms Can Learn from Journals
A/E/C firms can do something similar.
Project managers don’t need to write polished prose. But a few notes during or right after a project can preserve valuable details:
- What challenge did the team overcome?
- What did the client appreciate?
- What unexpected problem required a creative solution?
- What moment showed the firm’s values in action?
Those notes can later help marketers develop stronger project summaries, proposals, case studies, and client testimonials—with the proper approvals.
Capture the Details Before They’re Forgotten
A/E/C firms have plenty of stories. The challenge is that time passes quickly, and important moments are easy to forget.
Capture them while they’re fresh.
You won’t be sorry.
Project insights and client experiences are easy to overlook when teams are busy. I help A/E/C firms identify and develop those stories into case studies, project narratives, and client-focused content.
Learn More
Want to learn more about storytelling, case studies and other communications for A/E/C industries? A/E/C Connect is my newsletter. Subscribe on LinkedIn to be the first to see each new entry. If you have a challenge or question you would like me to address, contact me at blaizecommunications@gmail.com.
