Digital annual report design

A digital annual report design that showcases a genuine dedication to customer satisfaction and a strong emphasis on performance.

Challenge

Annual reports often contain a large volume of information, which can sometimes make them challenging to read and absorb. To ensure clarity, this digital annual report design needed to summarise key findings effectively while presenting the company’s performance against its commitments and business objectives.

Our task was to create a compelling digital summary of the annual performance report, ensuring it remained a high-impact communication tool that effectively reached and resonated with its audience.

Solution

We structured the digital annual report design to present key findings and relevant content in a way that makes information easy to digest and retain.

The digital version serves as a concise and user-friendly summary of the full 168-page printed report, providing an accessible alternative for those seeking a quick yet comprehensive overview. Designed in a streamlined PDF format, the layout remains simple yet effective, allowing readers to navigate through the content effortlessly.

To keep the interactive experience intuitive, we avoided unnecessary technical features that could distract from the core information. We designed the navigation system to be straightforward and user-friendly, ensuring that stakeholders and customers could easily access the details they needed regarding the company’s goals and performance metrics.

To structure the content, we used a bright and well-organised colour palette, helping to distinguish different sections and create a logical flow throughout the report. The use of icons further supported this approach, visually segmenting information and making it easier for readers to find what they were looking for.

High-quality photography played an essential role in shaping the reader’s experience, drawing attention to the dedication and efforts of the staff. By incorporating compelling imagery, we created a visual connection between United Utilities employees and their customers, reinforcing the company’s commitment to service and community engagement.

Since the annual report was also available in print, we designed the digital version with adaptability in mind. This approach ensured a seamless transition between formats, allowing the company to reduce production times and costs, while maintaining a consistent visual identity across both versions.

“As a regulated business, it’s vital that we can share how well we are performing against the promises we have made to our customers and stakeholders.

In addition to supporting us to produce a document that reads well, with Plain English accreditation, the team helped us to achieve the right balance of copy, images, illustrations and interactivity which makes for a very effective and engaging presentation of our key performance areas.

We’re really pleased with how the summary has turned out and feedback on the document has been great too.”

Head of Customer Communications at United Utilities