Designing Annual Reports in 2025: Beyond the Booklet
Annual reports have come a long way from static PDF downloads and stacks of printed pages. In 2025, they’re not just a compliance requirement — they’re a creative opportunity to tell your brand’s story, highlight achievements, and engage stakeholders in fresh, immersive ways.
If you’re planning your next annual report, here’s how to make it not only informative, but unforgettable.
Think Beyond Print
Yes, print can still be beautiful — especially for high-end, tactile pieces that live in boardrooms or investor mailers. But today’s audiences are mostly online, and they expect something more interactive. Go beyond the printed booklet by creating a digital-first experience that meets people where they are: on their devices.
Ideas to consider:
Interactive PDFs with embedded video, clickable charts, and navigation.
Microsites dedicated entirely to the annual report, optimized for mobile and desktop.
Scroll-based storytelling that guides users through your highlights in a narrative flow.
Create a Digital Experience, Not Just a Download
In 2025, your digital annual report can (and should) feel like a mini-campaign. Think motion, interaction, storytelling.
What makes a digital annual report engaging?
Data visualization: Turn spreadsheets into animations, graphs, and infographics that move with the scroll or user interaction.
Micro-interactions: Hover states, clickable icons, progress bars — small details that guide users intuitively.
Personalization: Let users filter data by region, product, or impact area.
Accessibility: Make sure your report is screen-reader friendly and passes WCAG compliance.
Bonus tip: Include a quick “Highlights” or “Year at a Glance” summary.
Integrate Annual Reports Seamlessly Into Your Website
Your annual report shouldn’t be an island. It should feel like a natural extension of your brand’s digital presence.
Smart integrations include:
A custom subdomain (e.g., 2024report.yourcompany.com)
Embedding animated report sections into your homepage or About section
Repurposing report content into blog posts, case studies, or social media
Linking key metrics to your ESG dashboards or impact trackers
By integrating your report into your web ecosystem, you extend its reach and give it life beyond one-time readership.
Bring Your Story to Life with Animation
Animation can turn a static timeline into a story, a flat chart into a compelling journey, and a dull metric into a wow moment.
How to use animation effectively:
Hero animations: Start with a strong motion-led visual on the landing screen.
Data transitions: Animate charts growing, shrinking, or shifting to show change over time.
Infographic storytelling: Tell impact stories using animated icons and illustrations.
Video content: Add leadership interviews, customer stories, or behind-the-scenes recaps.
Tools like Lottie, After Effects (for exporting JSON files), Webflow, and Adobe Animate let you bring your graphics to life without heavy file sizes.
Make it Shareable and Evergreen
Your annual report shouldn’t disappear after Q1. Extend its lifespan by:
Breaking it into social-friendly content: motion clips, stat graphics, quote cards.
Turning each section into a blog post with deeper dives.
Repurposing video content for YouTube, LinkedIn, or investor updates.
Creating a live dashboard version of key metrics that can update quarterly.
Conclusion: Reports that Resonate
Annual reports in 2025 are part editorial, part experience, and part campaign. Whether you’re a nonprofit, corporation, or startup, this is your chance to captivate your audience — not just inform them.
Need help rethinking your next annual report? We design reports that blend storytelling, design, and tech to leave a lasting impression.
Let’s chat about how we can turn your next report into your most engaging one yet.