General Information
The Awards program is open to all technical communicators – the awards are not restricted to ISTC members, and should interest everyone who commissions or creates technical information.
This means you can submit your own work, or that of your managers, colleagues or direct reports. Remember it is not only the individual who gets the accolade of winning an award, the company benefits from the acknowledgement as well.
This competition is open to technical communication of all kind including websites, podcasts and help for mobile applications.
You can enter in one or more of the following classes:
- Descriptive – Entries must tell someone about something. Examples include datasheets, overviews, specifications, catalogues, syllabi and informative websites.
- Instructional - Entries must tell someone how to do something. Examples include user guides, online Help, assembly leaflets, business procedures and training materials.
- Promotional - Entries must persuade someone to do something. Examples include brochures, presentations, marketing literature, exhibition displays and promotional websites.
- Graphic - Entries must use pictures more than words to convey their information. Examples include word-free assembly instructions, illustrated wallcharts and presentations.
- Tabular - Entries must use tables more than words to convey, or solicit, their information. Examples include forms, spreadsheets, catalogues and data-heavy reports.
Most pieces of technical communication involve a range of techniques. When determining the class in which to enter, consider which techniques you have used most and best – your entry will be compared with others that have similar strengths. Classes are open to entries delivered through any medium. Although the awards are oriented towards deliverables, mechanisms like templates may be eligible if they contain sufficient guidance to merit entry in the descriptive or instructional classes.
Entry Rules and Forms
- Download a full description of the award rules.
- Complete and submit your Entry Form.
- Complete and submit the Entry Details Form.
The deadline for entries is 30th June. If you need more information, contact the Awards Manager.
Past winners
For further details see Winter issues of Communicator (accessible to ISTC members only).
2012 winners
| Class | Awards Winners |
| 1. Descriptive | Class did not run |
| 2. Instructional | Winner: The Foglight Technical Communications team (Dave Truman and Naomi Bower) from Quest Software (now part of Dell) for Foglight eDocs |
2011 winners
| Class | Awards Winners |
| 1. Descriptive | Class did not run |
| 2. Instructional Sponsored by Component One – Doc-To-Help |
Winner: Alison Peck from Clearly Stated for Guide to ROSEGold |
2010 winners
The overall winner was John Dingli from Sage, collecting awards in two classes for Sage Bookkeeping Stage 1 e-Learning (Descriptive Class) and Sage Bookkeeping Stage 2 e-Learning (Instructional Class).
John Chisholm from Publications 2000 won the merit award for Vortex Pro Oil Boiler Installation, Servicing, and User Instructions (Instructional Class), and Sandra Priestley from Camera Dynamics Ltd took the merit award for OConnor Follow Focus User Guide (Instructional Class).
The UK Technical Communication Awards were sponsored by Triview, with the presentation taking place at the Gala Dinner on 22 of September 2010.
| Class | Awards Winners |
| 1. Descriptive Sponsored by Triview |
Winner: John Dingli of Sage for Sage Bookkeeping Stage 1 e-Learning |
| 2. Instructional Sponsored by Triview |
Winner: John Dingli from Sage for Sage Bookkeeping Stage 2 e-Learning Merit: John Chisholm of Publications 2000 for Vortex Pro Oil Boiler Installation, Servicing, and User Instructions Merit: Sandra Priestley of Camera Dynamics Ltd for OConnor Follow Focus User Guide |
2009 winners
| Class | Awards Winners |
| 1. Descriptive | Class did not run |
| 2. Instructional Sponsored by ASL |
Winner: Galyna Key from Autodesk for Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2010 Help |
2008 winners
| Class | Awards Winners |
| 1. Descriptive Sponsored by AST |
Winner: Owen Flatau of BigHand for BIGHAND3 Technical Requirements |
| 2. Instructional Sponsored by AST |
Winner: Gareth Williams from CODA for CODA 2go Online Help |
2007 winners
| Class | Awards Winners |
| 1. Descriptive Sponsored by Plain Words |
Winner: Marian Newell of Newell-Porter for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Technical Services Structural Manual Runner-up: Pascal Kesselmark for the Geberit Product Catalogue |
| 2. Instructional Sponsored by AST |
Winner: Steve Whalley and Brian Morgan from Intervoice for Media Exchange Release 2.0 System Guide Runner-up: Heather Oliver of Nu-Heat Underfloor for Nu-Heat Warm Water Underfloor Heating Installation Manual |
2006 winners
| Class | Awards Winners |
| 1a: Technical information (printed) Sponsored by AST |
Winner: JPA Technical Literature for AS35 Insulated Roof & Wall Panels |
| 1b: Non-technical information (printed) Sponsored by Techscribe |
Winner: Roy Sanders of EADS Military Transport Aircraft for A330 MRTT Technical Review Brochure |
| 2a: Technical information (online) Sponsored by AST |
Winner: Helen French of Coda for Coda XML: Web Services Technical Guide |
| 2b: Non-technical information (online) Sponsored by Plain Words |
Winner: Chris Clenton of Royal Bank of Scotland for On-line Process Diagrams |
2005 winners
| Class | Awards Winners |
| 1a: Technical information (printed) Sponsored by AST |
Winner: Wendy Coy for Intervoice Runner-up: Jane Hodges for Gazelle Training |
| 1b: Non-technical information (printed) | No award presented |
| 2a: Technical information (online) Sponsored by AST |
Winner: Fiona McGregor for Paragraphica UK Ltd Runner-up: Janet Basdell for Plain Words |
| 2b: Non-technical information (online) Sponsored by Plain Words |
Winner: Pat Gerwat for CODA plc Runner-up: Pam Nicholl for Waitrose |
2004 winners
| Class | Awards Winners |
| 1a: Technical information (printed) Sponsored by AST |
Winner: Dards Computing & Communication for the RMSflowsim User Guide Runner-up: Orbis Technology |
| 1b: Non-technical information (printed) | No award presented |
| 2a: Technical information (online) | No award presented |
| 2b: Non-technical information (online) Sponsored by Mekon |
Winner: Plain Words |
For further details see Communicator, Winter 2004 issue (accessible to ISTC members only).
