Cover of the 2024 Urban Land Institute Annual Report; Interactive edition
Each year, organizations invest significant time and resources into producing their annual reports. These publications are more than financial summaries—they reflect an organization’s mission, impact, and vision for the future.
Among our core categories of content-focused design, annual reports may be our sweet spot, as they blend the storytelling expertise we’ve honed over two decades of magazine and book design with the data visualization skills we’ve developed through years of financial-services publishing and marketing. Our reports go beyond mere compliance—they transform data into a compelling story, and craft visually-engaging, well-structured narratives that provide clarity, context, and impact. By balancing design, storytelling, and data visualization, we create reports that not only inform but also inspire action and drive meaningful engagement.
OuR Process
For most annual report projects, we collaborate closely with an organization’s internal communications team to ensure the final product aligns seamlessly with their brand and messaging. Typically, clients provide an initial manuscript or a structural outline of the content, and we work with them to develop a design around that framework. However, our collaborative design approach often also helps shape and refine the content, ensuring a cohesive integration of text, visuals, and overall design. We study an organization’s branding and understand the report’s key themes, so that we can create a thoughtful visual strategy that communicates information effectively and enhances the overall narrative.
Recent annual report work
Our most recent annual report project was the 2024 report for our longtime client, the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global membership organization of real estate developers, architects, urban planners, and land use experts. We have worked with ULI for nearly twenty years, and this was our third year producing their annual report. The report highlights the achievements and stories that have helped ULI and its members shape the future of cities worldwide.
Check out some pages from this report below, or view the full interactive report here.
Other AnnuaL Reports
In addition to ULI, we have designed annual reports for numerous organizations, including:
The International Institute of New England, an organization that supports refugees and immigrants
The MacDowell Colony, a world-renowned artist residency program in New Hampshire
The Mind and Life Institute, a nonprofit that explores the intersection of science and mindfulness.
The Quarto Group, a global, publicly-traded publishing company, for which we produced a highly technical, audited report
We also design Presidents Reports and Donor Reports for colleges and universities including Babson College and The University of Northern Colorado.
And we developed a fully interactive, animated Online Annual Report for The Solomon Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the design and construction of greenways throughout Greater Boston.
Take a look at some of these reports below.
Beyond Annual Reports: White Papers, policy Briefs, and Investor Guides
In addition to annual reports, we regularly produce other types of corporate reports and collateral such as white papers, case studies, and policy briefs for clients like Pearson Education and the Association of Behavioral Healthcare. And for many years, we designed the Independent Guide to the Vanguard Funds—a 320-page annual investor guidebook rich with charts, tables, and graphs for InvestorPlace Media.
Policy brief we designerd for the Association of Behavioral Healthcare
Let’s Talk About Your Next Report
Whether you’re looking to create a print or digital annual report, we’re here to help you craft a document that reflects your organization’s impact and vision. If you’re ready to elevate your annual report beyond a standard summary into a dynamic storytelling piece, let’s connect.
Explore more examples on our Annual Report Page and contact us to discuss how we can bring your next report to life.