Some projects begin with a steep learning curve. The subject might involve workplace safety, manufacturing systems or emerging technology. Whatever the field, the challenge is to understand the material well enough to explain it accurately without making it harder to follow than it needs to be.
I’ve created specialized content for clients including VigiLife, 80/20 and Plascene. The work has covered OSHA requirements, lean methodology, industrial materials, healthcare technology, artificial intelligence and other technical or business subjects.
Each assignment starts with research. I review the available material, talk with people who know the subject firsthand and keep asking questions until the explanation holds together. When something is unclear, I would rather identify the gap than cover it with confident-sounding language.
I also consider what the reader needs from the content. A technical audience may want detail and precision. Someone new to the subject may need more context and a clearer path through the material. The structure, terminology and level of explanation should reflect that difference.
Working across specialized industries has taught me how to get up to speed quickly without pretending expertise I have not earned. It has also made me a more careful writer and editor. I know how to preserve the details that matter while making complex information easier to understand and use.
Chris Irby | Writer, Editor, Nerd 