Annual Report Design UK

A report people actually read

An annual report has several audiences: trustees or the board, funders, members, staff, regulators and the public. Most of them will read the first few pages and skim the rest. dijitul structures the report so the key messages land early: a short welcome, a page of headline numbers, then stories and detail for those who want them, with the formal accounts at the back.

We turn lists of figures into charts, pull out short quotes from the people you help (supplied by you and used with their consent), and use photos to break up text. Impact reports for charities often work best organised around outcomes rather than departments.

Accounts and figures, handled carefully

Figures in an annual report must match the signed accounts exactly. We never retype financial tables by hand. We place them from your accountant's or finance team's files, keep the structure they provide, and highlight anything we had to reformat so it can be checked. The content, accounts and any statutory statements are yours and your advisers'; dijitul is responsible for the layout, not the numbers.

Late changes are normal. Because tables and text are linked to styles rather than drawn by hand, a revised figure flows through without breaking the layout. We keep a change log during proofing so everyone can see what moved.

Charts and infographics

Charts pasted from Excel often arrive as low-resolution images with default colours. We redraw them as vector graphics in your brand colours, with direct labels instead of legends where possible, and consistent scales across related charts so comparisons are fair. Pie charts are kept for simple part-of-a-whole splits; bar charts are used for most comparisons because they are easier to read accurately. The same charts can be supplied as images for social media and presentations. For standalone data graphics, see infographic design.

Accessible PDFs for your website

A print PDF is not accessible. Screen readers need a tagged PDF with a logical reading order, headings marked as headings, real text rather than text in images, alternative text for charts and photos, and enough colour contrast. Public sector bodies are covered by the UK's accessibility regulations for websites, and many charities and companies follow the same standard to make sure their reports work for everyone. We export a separate accessible version and check tag structure and reading order before handing it over.

How the project runs

Annual reports involve several people signing things off, so we agree a timetable with you at the start, working back from your AGM or filing date. First we set the design style on a few sample spreads using last year's content or draft text. Then you supply final copy, photos and the accounts files, and we lay out the whole report. During proofing, comments are marked directly on the PDF so nothing gets lost in email. We keep one master file throughout, so the print PDF, accessible PDF and summary graphics all come from the same approved version. If figures change after the accounts are audited, we update them in place and flag every page affected.

Print, paper and price

Short reports are usually saddle-stitched in multiples of 4 pages, commonly A4 portrait. Longer reports with full accounts are often perfect bound. Many organisations choose uncoated or recycled paper with an FSC certification for a lower-impact feel, and print smaller runs because most readers use the PDF. We supply PDF/X-1a files to your printer, or arrange print through print management.

Annual report design is quoted as a fixed price based on page count, the number of charts and tables, and whether you need an accessible PDF and summary graphics. Amends after sign-off are £45 an hour + VAT. For a matching slide deck for your AGM, see presentation design. Send last year's report for a quote.

What you get

• Print-ready PDF/X-1a with 3 mm bleed
• Tagged, accessible PDF for your website
• Vector charts and infographics you can reuse
• Social and presentation graphics of key figures
• Editable InDesign files on request

How it works and what it costs

Logos from £150, brochures from £295, photography from £295 a half day and CAD at £45 an hour, all + VAT. You get a fixed price before we start.

1. Tell us the brief

   What it is for, who will see it, where it will be used and any examples you like. Rough is fine.

2. Fixed price

   We confirm the price and what you get, in writing, before any work starts.

3. First designs

   We design, shoot or model it and share the first version for your comments.

4. Refine

   We make the changes, check every detail, and prepare the files properly for print, web or manufacture.

5. Final files

   You get the finished files in the formats you need, ready for your printer, website, social channels or manufacturer.

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