Design Like a Magazine Editor
Explore proven design practices that will make your proposal one anyone would pick up from a magazine stand.
Almost every proposal reaches the same flash point: participant access is restricted so the proposal manager can edit the narrative, refine the messaging, and bring the document together visually. That moment often creates tension with authors—and can lead to a last-minute scramble to “Tetris” content into the space available.
Drawing on her experience as a section editor, Kati Schoenwitz, CF APMP, Shipley BDC, will share techniques from print media that have become an integral part of her proposal management process. Attendees will learn how to approach storyboarding, author assignments, editing, and page design through the lens of a magazine editor—creating a more organized process and a stronger final product.
This session will explore how editorial thinking can help proposal teams establish structure earlier, guide contributors more effectively, reduce late-stage production challenges, and create marketing materials that are both easy to evaluate and visually compelling. Participants will also examine proven design practices that can make a proposal—or any marketing deliverable—feel like something a reader would willingly pick up from a magazine stand.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Apply editorial storyboarding techniques to organize proposal content, establish narrative flow, and identify information needs before writing begins.
- Develop clearer author assignments and content expectations that help contributors understand what is needed, where it belongs, and how it supports the overall proposal strategy.
- Use editing strategies borrowed from print media to strengthen clarity, consistency, readability, and client-focused messaging.
- Recognize effective page-design principles including hierarchy, white space, imagery, pacing, and visual balance that make proposals easier to navigate and evaluate.
- Reduce late-stage “content Tetris” by making smarter decisions about structure, word count, page allocation, and design earlier in the proposal process.
- Translate these editorial and design practices beyond proposals to qualifications packages, presentations, brochures, and other A/E/C marketing deliverables.
Presenter
Kati Schoenwitz, CF APMP, Shipley BDC
Pursuit Strategy Manager, Burns & McDonnell
Kati is a marketing and creative communications specialist with a background in value-add content development and exceptional client experiences. She specializes in designing attractive, easy-to-evaluate proposals and incorporating client-focused strategic messaging to help improve win and capture rates. Kati has 13 years of experience in the A/E/C market and 18 years of experience in communications, C-suite level presentations and white glove events. She is also APMP and Shipley certified in proposal management best practices.
Cancellation/Refund Policy
In order to receive a refund, reservations must be canceled 72 business hours prior to the start of the event. If you do not cancel your reservation within the required time period, a refund will be forfeited.
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$30.00 CPSM Rate
$35.00 Member Rate
$40.00 Sponsors
$50.00 Non-Member Rate
$35.00 Other SMPS Chapter Member Ticket
