Annual report design requires keen eyes and working to deadlines
Annual report design is a unique kind of project – often written, designed and produced under tight timelines. With content arriving at the last minute, it takes an experienced team with streamlined processes to keep annual report projects on track. As an annual report designer, Kyle Loranger Design works with clients across Canada to design their reports and business communications documents.
We design annual reports that are visually compelling in print and digital formats. If you are interested in taking your annual report online, we can do that too.
Accuracy and quick turnarounds
Kyle Loranger Design has designed annual reports for numerous organizations in Edmonton, Alberta, Western Canada and beyond. We are happy to show you samples of our annual report design work to help inspire you for your upcoming project.
When you are the communications professional in charge of your organization’s annual report, working with a qualified graphic design team makes for more accurate and consistent proofs – saving you precious time and costs. Planning ahead for your annual report means there are many things to think about. Where will your written content come from? Should you use stock or custom photography? Will you get it printed and how many do you need? We can help you manage all of these details!
Common annual report questions
When we start talking with a client about an annual report project, we start with some basic questions:
- Are there previous annual reports we can review?
- Do you have all your content ready? If not, what stage is your content at?
- What is the main purpose of the Annual Report? Is this AR used as a tool to show off the organization?
- What are your deadlines? Is there an annual meeting the report will be presented at?
- Will the report be printed, distributed as PDF, or as webpage?
Do I have to print my annual report? Can you make just a PDF?
No, you do not have to print your annual report. It really depends on what your stakeholders expect. Many organizations are moving toward going paperless, and the annual reports can be designed and published in PDF format, or as mini-websites.
What information is in an annual report?
An annual report is a comprehensive document that reports on what an organization has achieved in the previous year. Annual reports include an introduction of the company, mission statement, brief history and personal message from CEO or board director. There is a financial section that can include current stock prices if applicable, historical financial information and current income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement.
Companies that only have to report basic financial information may wish to dedicate a large portion of the annual report to reporting on and generating goodwill. Discussions and photos showing the organization’s involvement in community initiatives may be used throughout the annual report.
How do you design an annual report at KLD?
Brand Style
We begin by learning your brand mission, personality, and values to ensure we understand your brand.
Project Management
Annual report design requires keen eyes and working for deadlines. We work with you to define the process and set creative and content deadlines to ensure the final product is approved and ready when you expect it. This is when we ask questions about format and final uses. How many pages and what size? Will your report be printed as well as used in PDF form?
Research and Mood Boards
Mood boards are a visual encapsulation of your brand’s voice, tone, look, and feel filtered. This essential step will help us set the broad direction for the report, and allow you to collaborate with our process at a very early stage.
Design Concept
Where everything comes together. We’ll present initial concepts, usually one or two samples, including a cover page and an inside spread. Then you’ll review and we’ll help you decide on a single direction and refine.
Gathering Content
This step involves gathering all necessary content, including copy, images, graphs,
and charts. Graphs and charts can be a great way to display vital data without boring your readers, and infographics can be a fun way to add a visual element to content. Our team can assist with copywriting or recommend a writer if you need help creating or revising content.
Design
This is where we synthesize all of your content and translate the approved concept into a report.
Revisions
We know it won’t be perfect at first, which is why we anticipate two to three rounds of edits and revisions.
Approvals
When all is approved we will prepare the final report for your final purposes, as discussed during planning. This might be sending the report to the press or preparing it for web viewing.
Turn your annual report into a mini-website
So much is online these days, including annual reports! We can create an online version of your annual report that your stakeholders can click through and browse on their devices.
Better than a pdf, an online annual report can have interactive animations, infographics and more to highlight your organizations accomplishments in the past year.
We can arrange to get a unique domain name and website hosting. Over time, your reports can continue to be hosted, and you can build an online archive of your annuals.
