End of year report design

An end of year report design that captures a sense of excitement and momentum, reflecting a dynamic pace, decisive action and measurable success. The report places members and their accomplishments at the forefront, celebrating their contributions in a way that feels engaging and inspiring.

Background

The IFoA (Institute and Faculty of Actuaries) is the professional body which represents and regulates actuaries in the United Kingdom. Central to the IFoA’s work this year has been listening to its members, and focusing on what they considered important.

The pandemic had sped up much of what the IFoA already had planned, such as the digitisation of exams and events offering. But the IFoA went beyond that, and they wanted to use this end of year report to showcase the work actuaries have done to support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, amongst other key initiatives.

After the great feedback we received on the previous year’s annual report, which we had also designed, we were invited to pitch for the next edition, with the IFoA deciding to stay with us. Our client felt very comfortable working with the previously established project team, with a guarantee of continuing with the supportive and trust-based relationship we had developed a few months back.

Challenge

To deliver an end of year report design that would visually encapsulate an important message addressed to IFoA members: “Throughout this annual report, we aim to show you that you are heard, you are valued, and that there is more good to come”.

Other key considerations:

1. The report would need to transmit the IFoA’s commitment to listening to members and keeping them at the heart of everything the IFoA does.
2. The report would need to easily translate into a social and digital format in a way that felt natural and native to that environment, and not a mere resize exercise which may have reduced the impact of the design and messaging in the digital space.
3. We would have to adapt to our client’s way of working – designing the report before content was made available to us – by creating a template which our client could then prepare content for.
4. Budget was key, with the IFoA being very upfront about it, with no room for any overspend.
5. A seamless stakeholder approval process was also essential to the success of the project.

Solution

After being asked for advice on the best approach, our designer, who had also worked on the previous edition, created an end of year report design where members truly are the focus. The design conveys a strong sense of excitement, energy and momentum, reflecting focused action and tangible success. Every element of the report reinforces the achievements of the IFoA community, ensuring their contributions take prominence.

For actuarial professionals, the true impact of their work lies in the outcomes – analysing risks, identifying trends and interpreting patterns. With a healthy budget for imagery, we filled the end of year report with bold, abstract visuals that capture the essence of actuaries’ influence rather than illustrating their roles literally. These striking images add depth and dimension, making the report visually compelling while emphasising the far-reaching effects of actuarial expertise.

Diamond shapes play a key role in the design, acting as a lens that magnifies and focuses on the individual. By cutting into images and shaping text layouts in an unconventional way, they create a distinctive and memorable structure. This geometric approach adds a sense of dynamism, ensuring the end of year report stands out as an engaging and original publication.

A fair and diverse representation of IFoA members was an essential consideration throughout the design process. The report reflects the breadth of the community, ensuring all members feel seen and valued. Careful attention was given to imagery, layout and content selection to maintain an inclusive and representative approach.

We presented statistics prominently within the end of year report, using visually engaging formats that reinforce the IFoA’s commitment to providing members and stakeholders with an informative and accessible reading experience. Whether through bold infographics or carefully structured data visuals, numerical insights are made just as compelling as the rest of the content.

Beyond visuals, we also placed great emphasis on the written content. To ensure clarity and impact, we involved one of our proofreading specialists to refine and elevate the copy. This final polish helped ensure that members could absorb the written information with the same level of engagement as the striking design, making the end of year report an insightful and visually dynamic read.