McElhanney
Project Title:
2025 ACEC-BC Meritorious Achievement Award Submission
Client: Internal Marketing / Project Date: Spring 2025
Objective
The primary objective was to design a compelling submission document for the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia (ACEC-BC) 2025 Meritorious Achievement Award. The document needed to create a persuasive case for McElhanney's recently retired CEO, Allan Russell, by recognizing his outstanding contributions to the consulting engineering profession.
Challenge
The project's main constraint was a tight, four-week timeline that had to be balanced with other high-priority projects. The core design challenge was to distill a dense 35-year career of leadership and community involvement into a concise, well-organized, and persuasive document.
Solution
As the lead on the design and layout, I worked with the internal marketing team, who provided the content. My specific contribution involved designing the entire document in Adobe InDesign, with supporting graphics created in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. To address the challenge of presenting a 35-year career, I conceptualized and created a 10-page visual timeline in Canva Whiteboard for rapid prototyping. This feature was key to condensing Mr. Russell's extensive career into an engaging, digestible format and ensuring an organized presentation of his legacy.
How
The document was designed in Adobe InDesign, with supporting graphics created in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Impact
The design work was a direct factor in Allan Russell's selection as the winner of the ACEC-BC 2025 Meritorious Achievement Award. The success of this submission not only honoured a deserving leader but also reinforced McElhanney's commitment to recognizing excellence within the industry, achieving the project's ultimate goal.
Project Title:
Award Submission Canada’s Top 100 Employers
Client: Internal Marketing / Project Date: Spring 2024
Objective
My role was to design a persuasive and visually engaging submission document for the prestigious Canada's Top 100 Employers 2024 awards. This project was a strategic opportunity to showcase McElhanney's commitment to its employees and enhance its brand visibility on a national scale.
Challenge
This project presented a unique hurdle: navigating the strict confidentiality surrounding the Top 100 Employer announcements while adhering to a tight deadline of less than one month. This demanded highly efficient planning, seamless coordination across teams, and precise execution of design.
Solution
As the project lead graphic designer, I collaborated closely with McElhanney's internal marketing communications team. I developed a visually engaging and informative submission document that highlighted McElhanney's employee experience. My design approach focused on a clear, concise layout to enhance readability and guide the judges' attention through complex information. I strategically incorporated visuals to illustrate key points and ensured consistent branding aligned with McElhanney's corporate identity.
How
The document was designed in Adobe InDesign, with supporting graphics created in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Evaluation & Impact
The crafted submission document was instrumental in McElhanney earning recognition as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2024. This project's success was a lesson in effective collaboration between design and marketing teams, demonstrating how integrated efforts yield superior results. It also solidified my ability to deliver high-quality work under significant deadline pressure, a crucial skill in a fast-paced environment.
Project Title:
University of Victoria Engineering Yearbook Print Ad
Client: Internal Marketing for Human Resources - Recruitment Team / Project Date: Fall 2024
Objective
To bolster McElhanney's presence and attract top-tier engineering talent from the University of Victoria, I designed a compelling half-page print advertisement. This ad, featured in the 2025 Engineering Yearbook, served as a tool for strengthening our recruitment brand within a key academic community.
Challenge
The primary challenge was to craft an advertisement that would capture attention amidst numerous corporate competitors while effectively communicating McElhanney's brand and recruitment opportunities to a discerning student audience.
Solution
My approach involved developing a fresh, modern design that integrated McElhanney's brand guidelines with the yearbook's aesthetic. The advertisement strategically highlighted key selling points for prospective engineers, including career growth pathways, mentorship programs, and the company’s commitment to social impact. I included a strong call to action, directing students to McElhanney's website or encouraging them to make a direct connection with a recruiter.
How
The document was designed in Adobe InDesign, with supporting graphics created in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
Evaluation & Impact
The print advertisement enhanced McElhanney's brand visibility among University of Victoria engineering students, sparking interest in career opportunities. This project demonstrated that effective advertising hinges on a deep comprehension of the target audience and platform. It also highlighted the necessity of close collaboration with internal clients to ensure the final product aligns with their goals.
Project Title:
Photo Library Solution
Client: All McElhanney Staff / Project Date: October 2023 - October 2024
Objective
To tackle the widespread challenge of disorganized photo and video assets, I spearheaded the implementation of an interim photo library solution using SharePoint. This initiative created a centralized, accessible platform designed to improve asset organization, search efficiency, and retrieval for all staff.
Presented research
Challenge
McElhanney faced a significant hurdle: a scattered collection of assets across numerous drives and sites, compounded by inconsistent metadata and outdated files. Furthermore, storing large video files in SharePoint presented considerable technical limitations.
Solution
I developed a multi-faceted approach. This involved establishing a dedicated SharePoint site for images, designing a comprehensive metadata system, and implementing a clear archiving protocol. To address the video storage issue, we set up a private Vimeo account for efficient streaming. I also conducted extensive user training to promote adoption across the company.
How
The solution was built on SharePoint, the “Proposed Structure was built using Canva, and the 'How-To' video was scripted, recorded, and edited using Microsoft Clipchamp.
Evaluation & Impact
The new photo library delivered substantial improvements, enhancing asset accessibility and streamlining search and retrieval processes across the company. Thanks to focused user training, we saw high adoption rates. This project demonstrated that a well-structured interim solution can meet immediate asset management needs when a full-scale DAM system is not feasible. The experience also proved that robust metadata and user training are essential for the successful adoption of any new system.