Design services
Annual report design services
An annual report service designs and produces the report from content you and your advisers supply. It agrees a plan and timeline with you, so that narrative, figures and accounts arrive in time, designs the narrative pages, highlights and charts, places formal sections exactly as approved, runs checks against source figures, and produces an accessible PDF and print files. It works within whatever requirements your accountant or adviser sets, rather than deciding them.
Covered here: the plan and timeline, working with advisers, chart and table design, checks, warning signs and what you receive.
Illustrative diagram
- Plan
- Template
- Narrative
- Formal
- Checks
How the service runs
Plan
Sections, page count, who supplies what, deadlines.
Output: Report plan
Template
Layouts for narrative, highlights, charts and tables.
Output: Approved template
Narrative pages
Laid out as content arrives.
Output: Draft narrative
Formal pages
Placed as supplied by advisers.
Output: Draft formal
Checks and files
Figure checks, sign-offs, PDF and print.
Output: Final report
Planning the timeline
Annual reports can run late when content arrives late. The plan should list every section, who supplies it and when, working back from your publication or filing date. Accounts may be finalised close to the deadline, so the designer should prepare layouts in advance and leave time to place and check them once they arrive. A short weekly check on progress helps spot late sections early.
Who supplies what
| Content | Supplied by | Approved by |
|---|---|---|
| Highlights and narrative | Organisation | Leadership |
| Stories and photos | Organisation, with consent | Leadership |
| Charts data | Organisation or finance team | Finance lead |
| Accounts and statements | Accountant or adviser | Adviser and board |
Working with your advisers
The designer should agree with your accountant or adviser how formal content will be supplied, in what format and whether any layout changes, such as table formatting, need their approval. The designer does not interpret requirements; if something seems missing or unclear, they should raise it with you rather than add or remove content.
Charts and tables
The service should design a consistent chart style and rebuild charts from your data, with labels, sources and honest scales. Financial tables should be formatted for readability, with alignment and spacing improved, while figures and wording stay exactly as supplied.
Warning signs in an annual report service
Figures retyped by hand
Risk of transcription errors.
Charts with flattering axes
Trust at risk.
No figure checks
Errors reach publication.
Designer decides required content
That is your adviser's role.
Example: a report for a membership association
Illustrative example — not a client case study
Situation: A membership association's report is always delayed by late content.
- A plan sets dates for each section, working back from the annual meeting.
- Templates for narrative, highlights and tables are approved early.
- Accounts are placed as supplied by the association's accountant and checked.
What this shows: The report was ready for the annual meeting. This example is illustrative.
What you should receive
Planning
- Report plan and timeline
- Approved template
Files
- Accessible PDF
- Print file and proof if printing
Records
- Figure check log
- Sign-off records
Checking figures
Every figure in the designed report should be checked against its source, ideally by copying from supplied files rather than retyping. Someone on your side should also check, and the adviser should approve the formal section in its designed form. Keep a short log of what was checked and by whom.
Briefing the service
Share last year's report, your brand files, the publication date, who supplies each section and any adviser contact for formal content. Note any sections that change little from year to year.
Accessible PDF
The online report should be an accessible PDF: tagged headings, logical reading order, alt text for images and charts, and tables tagged so screen readers can follow rows and columns. The service should check it with an accessibility tool before publication.
The template
Before content arrives, the service should design and agree templates for each page type: section openers, narrative pages, highlights, stories, charts, tables and the formal section. Approving these early means pages can be built quickly as content comes in, and next year's report can reuse the template.
Stories and photos
Stories about people and projects need consent from those featured and photos that can be used in print and online. The service can advise on what images work well and how to keep a consistent style, but consent is gathered by your organisation.
Print and summary versions
If printing, the service prepares a print-ready file and checks a proof. A shorter printed summary, with the full report online, is an option for organisations wanting to reduce print costs.
Questions about annual report design services
What does an annual report service include?
Plan, template, narrative and formal pages, checks and files.
Who decides required content?
Your accountant or adviser, not the designer.
Why plan the timeline?
Late content can delay the whole report.
Can the designer change financial tables?
Formatting for readability, with figures and wording unchanged.
How are figures checked?
Against source by the designer, then by you and your adviser.
Will the report PDF be accessible?
It should be, checked with an accessibility tool.
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