Competition Categories

Categories
The online communication competition has seven categories (pick the one that best describes your entry):

O1. Help.
Online information that has a primary purpose of providing immediate assistance to individuals while they use a product. It provides information appropriate to the task on an as-needed or as-requested basis. This category includes and is not limited to general help, procedural help, cue cards, examples, performance support, and integrated user assistance.

O2. Demonstrations.
Interactive online information that has a primary purpose of demonstrating or describing the main features of a product or product line with user interaction or feedback. This type of online material motivates people to buy or use a product, or informs them of the features or benefits of products. Besides demonstrations of products, this category also includes guided tours and marketing material designed for dynamic user interaction.

O3. Technical Marketing.
Static, non-interactive online information that has a primary purpose of describing or defining the main features of a product or product line. This type of online material motivates people to buy or use a product, or informs them of the features or benefits of products. This category includes and is not limited to online brochures, catalogs, and marketing materials that are designed to remain static. Most corporate Web pages belong in this category.

O4. Tutorials/Training.
Online information that has a primary purpose of teaching the techniques for using the main features and capabilities of a product, or of assisting in the process of teaching. This category includes and is not limited to computer-based training, tutorials, online lesson books, and training aids.

O5. Reference Material.
Online information that has a primary purpose of defining or explaining things like structure, results, words, problems, or parameters. These documents are typically published in a reference work format, similar to a dictionary or encyclopedia. This category includes and is not limited to online dictionaries, glossaries, function or object descriptions, data structure definitions, encyclopedias, and directories.

O6. User Support Tools.
Online information that has a primary purpose of assisting the user to complete a set of tasks or solve a set of problems. This category includes troubleshooting tools, wizards or wizard-like task completion tools, quick start guides, and automated support tools.

Technical Publications Competition

Entry requirements: The technical publications competition accepts only hardcopy (paper) entries. It cannot accept entries submitted electronically.

NEW THIS YEAR: Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files are now accepted only in the technical publications competition. If an entry is distributed as an Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file, it should not be submitted in electronic format; it will not be accepted. Three printed and bound copies of the publication are required. The binding should be simple, but sturdy, such as a three-ring binder or report folder. If the publication includes color that impacts how it is used, then color copies should be submitted so that the judges can evaluate it appropriately.

Judging
Technical publications are rated on four factors: writing, graphics, copyediting, and overall integration. All factors are judged in the context of the purpose, content, and organization of the document.

Categories
The technical publications competition has eighteen categories (pick the one that best describes your entry):
P1. Promotional Materials.
Publications that market a technical product, service, or organization. Includes advertisements, flyers, catalogs, and other presale literature.

P2. Informational Materials.
Publications that provide information to the general public or a particular audience about a technical or scientific subject, product, service, or organization.

P3. Quick Reference Guides.
Brief guides that provide ready and concise reference to essential features during the use of hardware, software, or noncomputer equipment. Includes graphical devices and other job aids.

P4. Software Guides.
Guides that provide instructions for using a software product, provide accessible reference information on its features and functions, or include both reference information and instructions. May be one or more volumes.

P5. Hardware/Software Combination Guides.
Guides that provide instructions for using equipment or a hardware product, as well as modifying or programming its firmware or software. Includes manuals for laboratory test equipment, scanners, printers, facsimile machines, modems, watches, cameras, and calculators.

P6. Computer Hardware Guides.
Guides for computer hardware, including reference information, descriptions of features and functions, and instructions for installation, use, and repair.

P7. Noncomputer Equipment Guides.
Guides for noncomputer equipment, including reference information, descriptions of features and functions, and instructions for installation, use, and repair. The guides may cover audiovisual, medical, laboratory, test, telecommunications, photographic, and recreational equipment and vehicles, tools, and appliances.

P8. Organizational Manuals.
Publications that provide guidance to employees or customers of an organization. Includes policies and procedures manuals, style and identity guides, and benefits guides.

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P9. Training Materials.
Publications developed for use in a training or classroom environment by either the trainer or student participant. Includes manuals, tutorials, workbooks, and instructor guides.

P10. Annual Reports.
Publications that summarize the activities or financial position of a corporation, governmental agency, or nonprofit community organization. Includes reports that comply with the regulations of government agencies, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as reports of unregulated, nonprofit organizations.

P11. Magazines.
Regularly scheduled publications in magazine format with a feature treatment, including use of photographs and art, as well as news, feature, and interpretive writing; and that contain news and information about an organization, technology, industry, or scientific field. May be intended for an internal or external audience, a special-interest audience, or the general public. Submit three consecutive issues as a single entry.

P12. Newsletters.
Regularly scheduled publications with brief writings and a flexible format. Generally lower budget and fewer pages than a magazine in a simple, type-oriented format that may or may not have photographs and illustrations. May be intended for an internal or external audience. Submit three consecutive issues as a single entry.

P13. Technical Reports.
Reports on scientific or technical efforts, usually aimed at the professional community or a contracting agency.

P14. Trade/News Articles.
Single articles appearing in trade journals or general interest periodicals, not as an original contribution to knowledge. Submit only tear sheets or reprints, not photocopies, indicating the publication title, volume and issue number, and date of publication.

P15. Scholarly/Professional Articles.
Single articles appearing in academic or professional journals or scholarly books as an original contribution to knowledge. Submit only tear sheets or reprints, not photocopies, indicating the publication title, volume and issue number, and date of publication.

P16. Scholarly/Professional Journals.
Regularly scheduled publications in magazine format whose primary content consists of bylined, peer-reviewed articles reporting scholarly, scientific, or technical work, performed by the authors, to a specialized external audience. Articles are original contributions to knowledge; review or tutorial articles may appear as occasional exceptions but do not dominate the publication. Submit three consecutive issues as a single entry.

P17. Books.
Lengthy documents on one subject, usually intended for sale to the public.

P18. Documentation Sets.
A set of publications that are intended to be used as a unit, and are typically packaged together. Examples include, but are not limited to, software documentation sets, multivolume reference materials, a combination of quick reference, user, and technical reference materials that are provided as a single unit.

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Technical Art Competition

Entry requirements: The technical art competition accepts physical media and online entries. Physical media include products that are mounted for viewing or included in a book, brochure, or other paper-based publication. Online includes art in products that depend on an electronic medium for delivery.

Physical entries:
For physical media entries in the technical art competition, entries should be quality reproductions. Original artwork will not be accepted. Entries requiring mounting should be on standard-sized foam core or mat board. If such entries are not mounted, they will not be accepted and will not be returned.

Online entries:
Note that online art entries must be integrated into a viewer application, not dependent on the design package used to create them. For example, a piece of art included in a help file or HTML page is acceptable. A file saved from a design or graphics application is not acceptable.

The technical art competition accepts entries that run on PC, Macintosh, or Web platforms. All PC and Macintosh entries must be submitted on CD-ROM, 3.5-inch diskette, or Zip diskette. Please specify (both on your entry form and on the diskette) if your diskette is in PC or Mac format. If you send compressed files, please make sure that they are self-extracting. An entry on the Web is judged as it exists on the day of judging. Entrants are not permitted to demonstrate their entries for the judges.

On the entry description sheet, include installation instructions, purpose, audience, tools used to develop the entry, and any other information relevant to evaluating the entry. Entries must install correctly, be virus free, and must not take an unreasonable amount of time to install. You must also submit three copies of any software required to use the entry other than the following standard software:

Adobe Acrobat Reader
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Netscape Navigator
Please specify which browser version works best, and what alternative browsers
are acceptable. The judges will do their best to accomodate your entry.

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Judging
Technical art is judged on how well it visually communicates a technical message. Judges evaluate the visual appeal, technical execution, and presentation of each entry to determine awards based on the entry's strengths and weaknesses.

Categories
The technical art competition has seventeen categories (pick the one that best describes your entry):

A1. Mechanical Illustration, Line.
Composed entirely of lines, dots, and solid areas. Requires precise depiction of the subject, including the proportions or relationships of objects depicted or represented. Includes exploded views, cutaways, orthographic or isometric projections, schematics, diagrams, graphs, charts, and tables. May be color or black and white. Physical media entries must be mounted. Each copy of the entry must be accompanied by a sample of the illustration's publication or an example of its use.

A2. Mechanical Illustration, Tone.
Composed of continuous tones that graduate from one color (or shade of gray) to another. Requires precise description of the subject, including the positions or relationships of objects depicted or represented. Includes exploded views, cutaways, orthographic or isometric projections, schematics, diagrams, graphs, charts, and tables. May be color or black and white. Physical media entries must be mounted. Each copy of the entry must be accompanied by a sample of the illustration's publication or an example of its use.

A3. Interpretative Illustration, Line.
Composed entirely of lines, dots, and solid areas. While the subject is technical in nature, intended use permits artistic interpretation of features or physical arrangement. Includes illustrative views depicting arrangement or general configuration, cartoons, and conceptual visualizations (as for technical proposals). May be color or black and white. Physical media entries must be mounted. Each copy of the entry must be accompanied by a sample of the illustration's publication or an example of its use.

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A4. Interpretative Illustration, Tone.
Composed of continuous tones that graduate from one color (or shade of gray) to another. While the subject is technical in nature, intended use of the artwork permits artistic interpretation of features or physical arrangement. Includes illustrative views depicting arrangement or general configuration, cartoons, and conceptual visualizations (as for technical proposals). May be color or black and white. Physical media entries must be mounted. Each copy of the entry must be accompanied by a sample of the illustration's publication or an example of its use.

A5. Photograph.
Contains technical content presented with innovative lighting or other effects. Physical media entries must be mounted.

A6. Manual/Book Design.
User and reference manuals designed for technical products, services, or organizations; and books on technical subjects. Design supports the flow of information and the ease with which the reader can locate and identify specific information.

A7. Annual Report Design.
Reports that summarize the activities or financial position of a corporation, governmental agency, or nonprofit community organization. Design supports the focus and projected image of the entity and presents financial and technical information in a visual manner.

A8. Catalog Design.
Catalogs designed for technical products and services. Emphasis on the presentation of large amounts of data in a readable format and information on ordering the product or service.

A9. Magazine Design.
Regularly scheduled publications in a magazine format with a feature treatment, including the use of photographs and art, about an organization, technology, industry, or scientific field. May be intended for an internal or external audience, a special-interest audience, or the general public. Submit three consecutive issues as a single entry.

A10. Cover Design.
Includes published cover design, software product splash screens, and World Wide Web home pages. Design considers integration and placement of visual images and accompanying text. If only the visual image is presented, it will be recategorized into category 3 or 4. Physical media entries must be mounted.

A11. Promotional Poster Design.
Posters that support or market an employee campaign, a technical product, an organization, or an event. Entry description should include information on how the poster was used. Physical entries must be mounted.

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A12. Informational Poster Design.
Posters that communicate educational information (as opposed to marketing) to the general public or to a particular audience about a technical or scientific subject, service, or organization. Entry description should include information on how the poster was used. Physical entries must be mounted.

A13. Packaging Design.
Packaging for hardware, software, or multimedia end-user merchandise, and boxes containing two or more manuals. If the package includes software, do not include software media.

A14. Promotional Materials Design.
Flyers, advertisements, product data sheets, single-unit promotional handouts, and multiple-page publications that market a technical product, service, or organization. Corporate and program identity materials (folders, stationery, logos, etc.) are acceptable if they communicate technical information or images visually.

A15. Informational Materials Design.
Multiple-page publications that provide information to the general public or a particular audience about a technical or scientific subject, product, service, or organization. Includes newsletters, technical reports, proceedings, and organizational manuals.

A16. Quick Reference Design.
Materials that provide concise reference to essential features of a technical product, service, or subject. Includes graphical devices, data reference tools, and other job aids.

A17. Display.
Displays include large-scale presentations such as trade show booths, exhibits, and billboards. Because of the size and space requirements of the original, photographs, illustrations, or other representative material is accepted in lieu of the display. The presentational material is not judged in and of itself, but is used to provide information about the display. Presentation material must be appropriately mounted or bound.

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