To some, it might seem a little early to begin the conversation about annual reports, the year in review. But as we’ve discovered while working with the Greek community and higher education institutions, fiscal calendars do not always coincide with the holidays, December 31^st and ringing in a new year.

In early September, we had the privilege of again partnering with Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority on a design project: their annual report. Most designers probably cringe at the phrase, but I have to admit, I LOVE them. Charts, graphs, tables; they all offer a plethora of details that need to be organized and styled into clear and concise, visual information. Infographics, as they’re popularly called, can range from simple to complex and can illustrate a variety of information.

Aside from the design aspects, I also find them incredibly inspiring. It’s always amazing to see the progress an organization or company can make over the course of 12 months. In Alpha Sigma Alpha’s case, they donated more than $163,000 and 100,000 hours to charity, increased their membership and had their highest retention rate ever (94%!). Not to mention, they completed a thorough rebranding including their logo, website and all their print materials. We may have played a small part in that last item!

As far as the Greek community is concerned, I’m going to have to wait 12 whole months to get my hands on another annual report. But for those of you who are quickly approaching the end of your financial year, keep us in mind. Did I mention that we love annual reports?