Sep 23, 2017

It is an exciting time in the world of publication design.

While there will always be a place for print, consider this.

You can make an elegant report, such as an Annual Report, with beautiful tables, typography and graphics, sustainably sourced FSC certified, and deliver it by post to stakeholders.

You can also turn the artwork into an interactive PDF that you send to interested customers, suppliers, and prospects on your list, by email.

You can also put a copy on your website.

The tables are phone and tablet-friendly, so they will resize for the user’s device.

The Directors’ Report has a photo of the Chair of the Board that, when clicked, plays a video of them speaking enthusiastically about the last 12 months.

All the links to URLs and email accounts are active. There is an order form linked to a payment gateway, and the new promotional video mentioned in the report can be watched and shared.

Just separate out the financial tables and that elegant Annual Report can now serve as a year-round marketing magazine.

Advantages of electronic publications

Cost: The interactive PDF removes some (or all) printing costs.

Equity: Accessible design is a human rights issue. It enables those who require assistive technology (such as a screen reader like JAWS or other text-to-voice software) to be included in your audience regardless of whether they have a visual, physiological, or neurological impairment.

Speed: An approved PDF document can be distributed immediately to an audience without the time lag for printing (often ten days). If–or should I say ‘when’–an error is detected, the document can be corrected and replaced immediately.