01 Planning, theme and the tale

Before starting the annual report ensure these tips are thought about and established:

  • Have a clear team of people in place for executing the content and edits of the annual report, get key people involved from the beginning so that they know they are part of the team and are aware of the timescales
  • Assign a project manager who oversees the gathering of information, making decisions and liaising with the designer
  • Establish targets and objectives of the report, what are the key messages, what are the priorities
  • Go through last year’s annual report and see what recommendations were made and what adjustments need to be made for this year
  • Has the audience changed since last year, consider what would they find engaging, what information would they been keen to read about the most?
  • Set a budget from time, print, design, photography and delivery costs. Everything needs to be accounted for and always leave extra budget aside for last-minute issues
  • Create a timeline from idea stage to print, always allow extra time for edits, changes, last minute additions and print or delivery delays
  • Drafts and changes may equate for most of the time, as an annual report designer I always produce between 1 to 2 drafts, with each draft there needs to be time allowed for approval, edits and then the designers time to amend the edits.

Once the above is established speak to a professional and experienced annual report designer like myself. I can at this stage talk to you about your objectives, targets, audience, research your industry and previous annual reports and then come up with a few concept designs.

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Annual report schedule

The best way to make sure your annual report stays on schedule is to create a timeframe, work backwards with the end date in mind and take the points below in to consideration for the rest of the timescale. Whether you have a deadline or not speak to me and I can help put plans in place to help meet your desired deadline and outcomes.

1) Annual report project content and team put together

2) Objectives and target of the report established

3) Designers and copywriters briefed with messages/objectives and story

3) First draft of content

5) Approved content

6) Design concepts put forward

7) Design concepts narrowed

8) Final content and stats sent to designers

9) First draft of design and layout

10) Design amends

11) Second draft of design and layout

12) Design signed off

13) Online version produced

14) Printing and delivery

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