How We Build

Challenge: Many organizations that build infrastructure in Haiti and other low-resource settings do so based on US construction standards and practices that are not appropriate for building resilient, cost-effective infrastructure that can be maintained with limited resources. Further, there is a lack of standardization of safe building practices in Haiti, with many local workers learning from on-the-job experience and not through formal education; this makes it difficult to use technical construction documents for training.

Solution: “How we build” is a graphical, user-friendly guide for site-supervisors and local construction workers that walks through the construction process step-by-step from foundation to project turn-over. It draws on Build Health International’s extensive experience building on the field in Haiti.

Logistics: One year in, first draft complete.

My Role: Lead on this project; collect and organize information from engineers and site supervisors; learn from observation of construction practices and drawings; write text, illustrate graphics and iterate content based on feedback

Lessons learned:   Understanding of construction processes and drawings; communicating effectively across different departments and teams; leading and pushing a long-term project forward; working proficiently in Adobe Creative Suite

Sample draft pages from “How we build”