Okay, you’re just going to have to forgive that headline … Through our partnership with ACT, Westergaard Advertising has developed a relationship with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Specifically with their education and research arm, the Manufacturing Institute. The manufacturing sector is driving the current U.S. economic recovery but faces unprecedented challenges. These issues are outlined in the The Facts About Modern Manufacturing, a key Institute publication which spotlights the latest U.S. government statistics and internal economic analysis — a must read for those in manufacturing. Westergaard was honored to produce the recent 8th Edition of the Facts report.

With the its focus on statistics and analysis, a bulk of our early work was translating data, charts, and graphs into a consistent and easy-to-read format.

Taking a step back, our next task was to develop an overall report concept with an increased focus on a 21st Century economy, high-tech manufacturing, and alternative energy. From the schematics that wrap the cover to the clean, modern layout accented by tech-savvy, green photos, our solution brought all of this together and gives the data and analysis the packaging it needs to guide the reader on their journey through the current state of the manufacturing sector.

When you are the nation’s largest industrial trade organization, as the NAM is, it’s clear that you have a very well-established and respected brand …

In creating an identity for the skills certification system our goal was to build a child logo that would seamlessly integrate into the NAM family of logos.

Our next step in communicating the system was to distill visuals from the Manufacturing Institute into clear and concise charts that outlined different aspects of the program from educational pathways to career clusters.

With these key visuals locked down we took a step back and worked with the team at the Manufacturing Institute on wrapping the system with a narrative that clearly outlined the skills crisis faced by modern manufacturers and positioned the NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification system as the solution for preparing a 21st century workforce. This took the shape of a large fold-out brochure. In the end, this piece along with the three info sheets above were inserted into a matching folder and distributed to key stakeholders at the launch.

The NAM-Endorsed Skills Certification System was launched at the National Press Club in Washington DC at an event featuring NAM President and Former Michigan Governor John Engler alongside ACT Chairmen and CEO Richard Ferguson. We are proud to contribute to this movement.