GI-ESCR Annual Report
Designing Impact: The Report on Global Rights Advocacy
Client Challenge
GI-ESCR faced a recurring challenge with their annual reporting process. Each year, they outsourced their annual report design, spending significant resources only to receive a finished product with no editable files.
This meant starting from scratch annually, resulting in inconsistent visual approaches that diluted their brand impact and failed to build recognition over time.
The organization needed a solution that would break this cycle while meeting two critical requirements: the report had to be genuinely beautiful and engaging for their sophisticated audience of donors, partners, and policymakers, while also remaining accessible for future editing by team members with varying design experience—from junior designers to non-designers.
"We knew we needed something that looked absolutely stunning, not just 'good enough.' But we also needed to be realistic about who might be editing future reports. The challenge was creating something that met both standards without compromise."
Strategic Approach
Having previously developed GI-ESCR's visual identity, we approached the annual report as an extension of their established brand framework.
Our strategy focused on translating their existing brand guidelines into a comprehensive editorial design system that could accommodate the complexity and diversity of their global human rights work.
We began by thoroughly analyzing the report content to identify opportunities for visual storytelling—determining where large typography, custom maps, infographics, and strategic photography could transform dense information into compelling narratives.
The approach prioritized breaking down information-heavy sections with engaging visual elements that would guide readers through complex advocacy stories and policy achievements.
"Since we had the foundation of their brand identity established, we could focus entirely on creating an editorial system that would make their incredible work as visually compelling as it is impactful. The key was developing a flexible framework that could adapt to different content types while maintaining consistency."
Design Solutions
Our design solution centered on creating a sophisticated yet manageable InDesign template built on best practices for editorial flexibility. We developed a comprehensive system that includes custom iconography, an updated (and editable!) world map design, and carefully crafted layouts that blend typography and photography for maximum visual impact.
The template employs strategic use of InDesign layers, master pages, and style sheets, allowing small adjustments to ripple through the entire document—changing a font size or color tone across all pages with a single edit.
Each chapter received a custom front cover treatment, with internal content organized through strategic hierarchies that break complex information into digestible sections.
To ensure successful implementation, we created a customized video training program that team members can reference whenever needed, covering everything from basic editing to more advanced layout adjustments.
"The real innovation was in the invisible architecture—building a template so well-structured that beautiful results are almost automatic. When the design framework is solid, even small content changes maintain the professional aesthetic the organization needs."
Results and Impact
The new annual report template has transformed GI-ESCR's approach to organizational communication.
The 2023 report received consistent praise from stakeholders for being both beautiful and engaging, successfully communicating complex global advocacy work in an accessible format.
More importantly, the organization now has the tools to maintain consistent brand presentation across all their major publications.
The template's success was immediately proven when GI-ESCR successfully produced their 2024 annual report using the same system, demonstrating the long-term value of the solution.
This consistency strengthens their brand recognition and professional credibility with donors, partners, and the broader human rights community.
"The template has exceeded our expectations. Not only does it look professional and engaging, but the editing process is remarkably straightforward. The video training gives us confidence to make updates ourselves, and the results consistently maintain the high design standards our organization needs. It's been transformative for our communications approach."