Write about people, not about products
Show the worker, not the widget
If I were asked to paint one of the world’s largest factories in 1932, I’d probably focus on blast furnaces and stamping presses, cylinder heads and assembly lines.
But when Diego Rivera painted his famous Detroit Industry murals, he focused on something else — the people behind the products.
I was in Ann Arbor recently, helping University of Michigan communicators write messages that better connect with humans. On my way out of town, I decided to tick an item off my life list and visit Rivera’s frescoes at the Detroit Institute of Art.
Turn your message into a masterpiece
Viewing this work of genius reminded me that human effort is always more compelling than lists of product features. To turn your message into a masterpiece, steal these three techniques from Rivera’s work:
1. Write about the people …
Readers rarely connect with corporate milestones or faceless technology. Give your narrative a pulse by highlighting the real scientists, engineers and frontline employees who make things happen.
2. … Not about the product.
The Detroit murals measure 4,400 square feet. They cover all four walls of the DIA’s courtyard.
The only car in the entire mural? Four inches long. Rivera didn’t paint products. He painted the hands that built them.
3. Show a behind-the-scenes slice of life.
Rivera included small, gritty monochrome panels tracking a worker’s daily routine. Skip the lofty executive summaries and start in the middle of things with a concrete, human, everyday moment.
What stands the test of time …
Rivera stood on the factory floor and reported the people in action. That’s why visitors still stop and stare at his work nearly a century later.
It’s the people, precious.
👉 Let’s help your team members write messages that connect.
