While working at Mudlark Theater in Evanston, Illinois, I designed the 2017 Annual Report, a multi-page publication created to communicate the organization’s activities, financial performance, and community impact to shareholders, donors, and other stakeholders.
My design process began with research and inspiration, reviewing examples of annual reports and editorial layouts to establish a clear visual direction. I developed initial concepts and page layouts in Adobe InDesign, focusing on hierarchy, readability, and consistency throughout the publication.
After presenting the first layout to my supervisors, I incorporated their feedback into the final design. While they were happy with the overall layout and color palette, they requested a black cover and back page to create a stronger, more polished visual presence.
I collaborated closely with coworkers to gather all required content, including: the 2017 financial report, lists of financial supporters, quotes from parents and students, photography from performances held throughout the year.
With this information, I refined the layout and determined how best to organize the content across the report. I selected and placed photography to complement the text while maintaining balance and visual flow.
After several rounds of revisions and reviews, the Mudlark Theater Annual Report 2017 was finalized and prepared for print. A physical booklet was printed to evaluate the finished product, allowing us to see the design as a complete, tangible piece.
Below are selected pages from the final annual report. The report was printed as a physical booklet to review the final layout and production quality.
Tools: Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, print production
Role: Editorial design, layout, print preparation
Below are examples of initial research, inspiration, and early layout explorations for the Mudlark Theater Annual Report. These early drafts focused on establishing overall structure, hierarchy, and visual direction before refining the final design.
Shown below is an earlier version of the annual report, which was later refined based on feedback from supervisors. Revisions included updates to the cover and back page, color usage, and layout details to create a more polished and cohesive final design.
The report was intended for print and reviewed as a physical booklet to evaluate layout, pacing, and visual hierarchy before final production.
Below is a print-ready mockup for physical review.
