When preparing your publication for print, you’ll want to carefully dot your i’s and cross your t’s, as mistakes can be costly and time-consuming to fix. That’s not to say that you can be reckless when working digitally, but the stakes are higher when going to print. 1. Design Within Set Parameters Work within the proper color space to avoid color shifts and unintended results; you’ll need to end up with a piece that uses the CMYK color space when you’re going to print. Though imported photos can be kept in RGB until export or output (see tip number three), elements you make in your page-layout software should be created in CMYK. Keep your non-essential, non-bleeding items within a set area—around a 1/4-inch to a 5/16-inch margin—to allow for shifting of material in printing or while it’s being cut. Also, make sure that any elements that are meant to bleed READ MORE »
The number-one job of corporate report design is to clearly convey information to current or potential investors, shareholders, employees, donors, or even the general public. But a corporate report of any kind doesn’t have to be a bland piece whose only purpose is to serve up facts and figures. To make your publication fresh, interesting, and really stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to incorporate a variety of design elements. USE IMAGES If an image can convey your point, let it. These days, people’s attention spans are shorter than ever, so you’ll need to grab theirs as fast as you can. A large photo with action in it can often speak volumes. If, for instance, your organization helps build wells in Africa, which do you think is more likely to compel readers to act: a tabular listing of the number of wells built in each country or a photo READ MORE »
Elements of a Great Annual Report Design Cover Think of the cover of an annual report like an announcement; it lets readers know what to expect inside the report. But beyond putting a year and “Annual Report” on the cover, what sort of content should be on the front of such an integral publication? To begin with the obvious, an annual report’s cover absolutely should show the year being reviewed as well as the organization’s name (or its logo if it’s familiar enough to the readers). The audience should also be defined in some way so that it’s crystal clear who the publication is intended for. That could be as simple as including wording about current shareholders or—if the goal is to gain investment—the organization’s mission statement or tagline. Make the message clear by literally spelling out the intended audience on the cover. One school of thought is that the READ MORE »
Nonprofit Annual Report Design Designing your company’s brochure can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be. If you know your main purpose in creating a brochure (beyond “because we need one”), the other items will come easily. One guiding principle that should inform your design is the drive to create a piece that will project confidence and put your organization in a competent light. CONTENT When deciding what to include in a brochure, also give thought to what not to include; don’t bombard the reader with too much information. Think of the brochure like a movie trailer for your organization. It serves to highlight the main points, create a reaction or emotional response, and give readers a call to action. That call to action may result in readers eventually donating or otherwise supporting your organization in some way, but the brochure should drive them to call or READ MORE »
I polled the Annual Report Design Team at MillerCox Design and these are our top tips on how to make the most of your design budget. Whether your budget is generous or streamlined, your organization can benefit from these tips.
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6 Strategies for
Better Publications
Proven steps to keep publication projects on track, eliminate surprises, and ensure successful outcomes.