Discussion Thread

  • 1.  Storytelling and civil engineering

    Posted 09-30-2019 09:37 PM
    In preparing for an upcoming presentation, I came across the following article about utilizing storytelling to engage your audience: How to Use Storytelling Techniques for Effective Presentations | GovLoop 

    Mentioned in this article is cognitive psychologist Jerome Bruner who suggests that we are 22 times more likely to remember a fact when it has been wrapped in a story. The marriage of data with your story can help your clients visualize your designs and get your point across! 

    How do you use storytelling in your civil engineering projects and presentations? How about in your work in general? 



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    Danielle Schroeder EIT, A.M.ASCE
    Associate Engineer
    Pennoni Associates
    Philadelphia PA
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  • 2.  RE: Storytelling and civil engineering

    Posted 10-01-2019 10:03 AM
    Civil Engineers use storytelling everyday. If you think about a set of Plans and Specs, we are telling a story to the reader of the Plans and Specs of what we are trying to build. The clearer our storytelling, the better the outcome (less change orders). 

    Storytelling is critical while presenting information to clients (especially non-technical clients). That is where the tips in above article come in handy. I always try to show the client the impact a project will have and give tangible examples.

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    Zaid Admani P.E., M.ASCE
    Sugar Land TX

    LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zaid-admani/

    Twitter: www,twitter.com/ZaidAdmaniPE

    Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Zaid.Admani.PE
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  • 3.  RE: Storytelling and civil engineering

    Posted 10-01-2019 11:20 AM
    This is a great topic Danielle! I got into construction and engineering management specifically because I love to build things that evoke emotion and tell stories.  Some of my first projects involved work at Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks. Since then my team and I  continue to work with former "imagineers" on projects we fund across the US. I've really come to embrace what they call "spatial storytelling", Particularly if your project involves the community at large or focuses on relaying an organizational "mission".

    The unique thing about storytelling is that it isn't isolated to a single industry or discipline. As engineers we tend to focus on "implementation" - the how of the idea - and this naturally comes with the tendency to think in terms of constraints. Working with non-technical creatives has really forced me to appreciate the interactions between the art of the story with the how of the technical. I've had to learn to suspend disbelief in order to fulfill the vision.  This is why I was so pleased to see engineers sketch for pleasure in my earlier thread.

    For me, it's about creating environments where people want to be. That's means looking at more than just architecture, MEP, or Civil design. It's about the sum of the whole - digital designers, artists, audio/visual and lighting techs, architects, landscape design, etc as well as the traditional engineering disciplines. Even the operational staff and the way they interact with the public or the facility is part of the spatial story.

    You might be interested in My friend's podcast "The Themed Attraction" or the folks at Falcon's Creative Group's podcast "Experience Imagination".  Even though they focuses on the themed entertainment industry they often get into the art of the story in presentations and AEC projects.

    Author Lou Prosperi has written a book about using storytelling in presentations called "The Imagineering Pyramid".

    The Imagineering Pyramid - An Overview
    The Imagineering Toolbox remove preview
    The Imagineering Pyramid - An Overview
    So, what is The Imagineering Pyramid? The Imagineering Pyramid is an arrangement of fifteen important Imagineering principles, techniques, and practices used by Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and construction of Disney theme parks and attractions. The principles in the Imagineering Pyramid each fall into one of five categories or groupings, each of which forms a tier within the...
    View this on The Imagineering Toolbox >

    Apple Podcasts remove preview
    ‎The Themed Attraction Podcast on Apple Podcasts
    Mel McGowan, Freddy Martin & friends discuss theme park design with themed entertainment industry experts. Mel McGowan, Freddy Martin & friends discuss theme park design with themed entertainment industry experts. This is a great podcast that interviews some heavy hitters in the themed entertainment world.
    View this on Apple Podcasts >



    ‎The Themed Attraction Podcast on Apple Podcasts



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    Jesse Kamm PhD, PMP, A.M.ASCE
    Senior Vice President of Construction Management
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  • 4.  RE: Storytelling and civil engineering

    Posted 10-03-2019 12:26 PM

    @Zaid Admani and @Jesse Kamm these are both excellent answers! Storytelling goes beyond just presentations, especially in our field. I am also a fan of fewer change orders too! Thank you, Jesse, for the book and podcast recommendation that I will be adding my list. 

    ASCE Plot Points, a podcast that tells the robust story of civil engineering one civil engineer at a time, is in Season 2 and is looking for answers on this topic. If interested, email your answer as a voice memo to ASCENEWS@... for a chance to be featured in the next episode. I submitted an answer to one of the featured questions last season, so feel free to respond here or message me with any questions.

     

    ​​

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    Danielle Schroeder EIT, A.M.ASCE
    Associate Engineer
    Pennoni Associates
    Philadelphia PA
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  • 5.  RE: Storytelling and civil engineering

    Posted 10-03-2019 04:48 PM
    I totally agree that storytelling is an effective way of communicating.  ASCE recognizes this, which is why they've brought along award-winning storyteller Alex McDowell as the keynote speaker for the ASCE 2019 Convention, He was the Hollywood production designer for films like "Fight Club'" and "Minority Report." ASCE brought his expertise to build ASCE's Future World Vision, an immersive storytelling experience of what the future holds for civil engineers. They're going to stream the keynote on Facebook Live Friday morning, Oct 11 for everyone to enjoy. 

    I'll be in Miami for the Convention so I hope to see everyone there!

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    Paul Lee P.E., M.ASCE
    Civil Engineering Associate
    Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power
    Los Angeles CA
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  • 6.  RE: Storytelling and civil engineering

    Posted 10-08-2019 07:48 AM
    I totally agree with you Danielle that using storytelling will be a very effective way of communicating during a presentation. Going through the mentioned article I found it really interesting how storytelling can grab an audience's attention and bring them back to attention in long-driven presentations and how it will make more memorable and impactful for the listeners.

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    Sagar Shekhar Tripathy S.M.ASCE
    Undergraduate 3rd year student in Civil Engineering
    Bhubaneswar OR
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  • 7.  RE: Storytelling and civil engineering

    Posted 10-08-2019 03:40 PM
    Hi Danielle,
    I have just finished a book, Seth Godin's book "All Marketers are Liars". In his book, he mentions that it is the sell to that group's values and beliefs that are to tell a story. There are several TED talks that mention the creation of a personal message to make the firm data much more memorable. 
    Example: Say that you know a family member that past from the lack of OSHA safety being ignored and that there is a given Percent of individuals that have passed as a result of neglect by a contractor not following OSHA standard and the result is a loss of life and the family they left behind. The individual that you are selling the good or service to has a personal relation to what you are selling and change in belief for the need for safety in the work environment.

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    Terri Leedy S.M.ASCE
    Jr Structure Civil Engineer
    Danbury NC
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  • 8.  RE: Storytelling and civil engineering

    Posted 10-08-2019 05:14 PM
    ​As an update, the episode of Plot Points that covers this topic is live: https://news.asce.org/asce-plot-points-season-2-episode-2-once-upon-a-time/ 

    @Zaid Admani and @Jesse Kamm -  your voice memos were included in the episode - great answers all around!  ​​​

    @Paul Lee I won't be attending the convention this year, but have a great time! 

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    Danielle Schroeder EIT, A.M.ASCE
    Associate Engineer
    Pennoni Associates
    Philadelphia PA
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