Over the years, our team here at JDJ Creative have created countless annual reports, and during that time we have learned a lot about what works and what does not.
This guide will enable companies to create impactful reports that convey clear messages, drive positive change and align workforces to reach desired goals.
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1. Why create an exceptional annual report
2. Planning your report
3. Choosing the right channel
4. Design pointers
5. The JDJ process
6. Disseminating your annual report
How to design an annual report
With the creative brief in mind, the design team will start creating an editorial concept. Following some key report design tips can help to increase your report’s visual impact.
Design for the skim reader – Remember that many people will spend no more than three minutes scanning through a report. Make sure that all the key points you want to communicate are designed to stand out.
Infographics – Make the data visual with infographics. You can emphasise the key information you want readers to notice and remember.
Use clean and coherent typography – If your report is to be produced in both print and digital formats, think about the font you use. Online content on a webpage needs a font that is web-safe so that your editorial is viewed as intended. This is not an issue if you are simply uploading a digital pdf.
Choose a visual theme – Great photography has the power to transform as well as inform. Accompanying well-written copy with a coherent visual theme can reinforce your key messages throughout the report and increase reader engagement.
Make it personal – Include stories and imagery that tell readers about the people in your company who make everything happen. Stories can help humanise your brand.
Embrace your medium – If using digital formats, maximise their strengths. If a photo is worth a thousand words, what can be said about a video or an interactive infographic?
Plan your portraits – Your report will look more professional if portraits of your key people have a consistent style. Decide on a dress code before the photoshoot.
Make it shareable on social – Social media is a key channel for increasing your company’s profile and raising awareness of its achievements. Add sharing buttons when publishing your report online, to help increase its organic reach.
Include a powerful purpose statement – This works on so many levels: it tells investors about your vision for the company and can also help to attract new talent.
