The ClearMark Awards recognize the plain language communications created by North American organizations. 2018 competition categories include:
Before & After: Digital | Before & After: Print | Brochures Over 10 Pages | Brochures up to 10 Pages | Digital: Email and Newsletters | Digital: Apps and Microsites | Digital: Websites | Forms, Applications and Statements | Infographics | Legal | Letters and Correspondence | Posters, Charts and Fliers | Spanish – Brochures Over 10 page | Spanish – Digital: Websites
Grand ClearMark Winners
Grand ClearMark Award Winner – English
Healthwise Decision Aid: Knee Osteoarthritis: Is It Time to Think About Surgery?
Healthwise
Grand ClearMark Award Winner – Spanish
MY HEART HEALTH, BE A WISEWOMAN
Rhode Island Department of Health – Division of Community Health and Equity
And MAXIMUS Center for Health Literacy
Category Winners and Finalists
Before and After
Before and After: Digital
Blue Cross NC Preventive Benefits Website – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Judges’ Comments:
“This is an excellent model for insurance companies that need to present changing, detailed info to consumers in a clear, understandable way in order to keep down customer calls.”
Finalists
Indigo Insurance – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Before and After: Print
JPMorgan Chase Estate Vehicle Transfer Letter – JPMorgan Chase
Judges’ Comments:
“It is very clear what the person receiving this letter should do. The options are also fairly clear. This is a good example of plain writing addressing a delicate situation, much improved from the prior version.”
Finalists
Audit Tax Order Consolidation – Minnesota Department of Revenue
Understanding Lupus – CommunicateHealth, Inc.
Photo Consent – Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities
Brochures
Brochures Over 10 Pages
Understanding Mother & Baby Care – InJoy Health Education
Judges’ Comments:
“This is an outstanding booklet on all counts — audience-focused, well-organized, clear, and well-designed. I am certain the increase in sales is the result of its high quality.”
Finalists
Medicare Advantage 2018 Enrollment Brochure: Improving How We Communicate With Prospects – Anthem, Inc.
The Adventures of Captain Immunity: A Comic Book that Teaches Adolescents about the Stages of Hepatitis B – Boston Children’s Hospital
Health First COLORADO Member Handbook, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing – MAXIMUS Center for Health Literacy
Brochures up to 10 Pages
Getting Started Guide – UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement Creative Services, Catchfire
Judges’ Comments:
“This fine piece is a stellar example that achieves the delicate balance of communicating clearly through language and graphic design.”
Finalists:
Medicare Advantage 2018 Enrollment Brochure: Improving how we communicate with prospects – Anthem, Inc.
Digital
Digital: Email and Newsletters
We ❤︎ Health Literacy – CommunicateHealth, Inc.
Judges’ Comments:
“This is a strong example of plain language principles. This entry was a pleasure to read: informative and empowering.”
Finalists
Retention Marketing Dual Planholder Email – UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement
Digital: Apps and Microsites
Healthwise Decision Aid – Knee Osteoarthritis: Is It Time to Think About Surgery? – Healthwise
Judges’ Comments:
“This app overall is a useful tool that effectively brings together information in a way that it’s professional, educational, and compassionate. This would be a great template for other topics.”
Finalists
NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator – National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Ethics App – QuickSeries Publishing Inc.
Business Center – Minnesota Department of Revenue
My Transplant Coach – Health Literacy Media
2016 Annual Report – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Digital: Websites
A Guide to Grief and Healing After the Loss of Your Baby – InJoy Health Education
Judges’ Comments:
“A difficult challenge well met. This is a graceful content experience to support people during a very difficult life experience.”
Finalists
AdoptUSKids website – AdoptUSKids
Aetna: Health Care Answers in 60 Seconds – Group SJR
Social Security Matters Blog – Social Security Administration
QuickenLoans.com Home Buyer’s and Refinance Guides – Quicken Loans
Forms, Applications and Statements
Transforming the Explanation of Benefits – Anthem, Inc.
Judges’ Comments:
“It is an excellent example of how an investment in plain language and user testing can allow an organization to reach – and educate – its users.”
No finalists
Infographics
Unfit to Serve: Obesity Is Impacting National Security – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, Mission: Readiness
Judges’ Comments:
“The whole infographic achieves its purpose: it informs the reader of a problem, explains why the issue is problematic, and finishes with an action item, or something that the reader can do, to offset the issue at hand.”
Finalists
Listen Up! Protect Your Hearing – CommunicateHealth, Inc.
Legal
Revised Bylaws of Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Judges’ Comments:
“It’s an outstanding version of what a legal document should be. It should be far easier to use than typical bylaws, which in turn should make it easier for the organization to fulfill its mission.”
Finalist
Anthem Medicare Advantage Mandated Renewal Communications: Annual Notice of Changes, Evidence of Coverage, Formulary, Provider Directory Notice – Anthem, Inc.
Janssen’s Informed Consent Form – Health Literacy Media
Letters and Correspondence
Medicine Tier Change Letter – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Judges’ Comments:
“This letter is an excellent example of what we are looking for in this category of letters and correspondence. It is short, to the point, conveying a necessarily negative message very clearly.”
Finalist
Inquiry Fulfillment Kit for the AARP Medicare Supplement Plan – UnitedHealthcare
Medicare Advantage Discontent Kit – UnitedHealthcare
Flu Shot Mailer – Catchfire, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement Marketing
Group Calendar – Catchfire, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement Creative Services
Medicare Advantage 2017 Start the Year Right Kit – Anthem, Inc.
Covered Drug List Annual Update – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Posters, Charts and Fliers
The Awareness Campaign – The Awareness Campaign
Judges’ Comments:
“This is a fantastic example of how solid information design techniques can to both grab attention AND create awareness of an important social issue like ableism.”
Finalists
2018 Cover Missouri Health Insurance Calendar – Health Literacy Media
What to Expect from Your Baby’s First Test – Genetic Alliance/ Expecting Health
Anthem EAP Depression Poster – Anthem, Inc.
Spanish – Brochures Over 10 page
MY HEART HEALTH, BE A WISEWOMAN – Rhode Island Department of Health – Division of Community Health and Equity
And MAXIMUS Center for Health Literacy
Judges’ Comments:
“This brochure is an inspiring example of plain language and audience-focused information design. It shows that it is possible to distill lengthy and complicated health information into simple screening guides and actionable health tips.”
Finalists
Seguro al Dormir® Brochure – Palladian Partners, Inc.
Spanish – Digital: Websites
Immi – Immigration Advocates Network, Pro Bono Net
Judges’ Comments:
“Immi’s straightforward, ethical, and easy to use tools and information on immigration options represents a great free educational service to millions of undocumented people in the United States.”
Finalists
Spanish Baby’s First Test website – Genetic Alliance/ Expecting Health