Speak for the Trees
Annual Report
Scope of Project
- Content strategy
- Print design
The Challenge
Speak for the Trees is a Boston-based nonprofit working to expand the urban tree canopy through planting, education, and advocacy. For the past three years, they’ve partnered with us to create an annual report that communicates their impact and inspires their community. As the organization grows, each report requires a new theme to reflect their evolution—this year’s concept, Deepening Roots and Building Resilience, celebrates both their long-term commitment and the strength of their community relationships.
The Solution
Our 2024 annual report design brings this theme to life through layered visuals and storytelling. Tree ring illustrations, close-up imagery of native plants, and vibrant community photography help to evoke ideas about the resilience of nature and the people behind the work. We streamlined the content to reduce page count and paper use while still delivering a bold, engaging narrative. The piece was printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper and produced carbon-neutral—an artifact of sustainability, impact, and beauty.
Form and Function: Creating Great Content and Aligned Design
Each year, we meet with the Executive Director to establish a theme and explore ways to make the design feel fresh and distinct. With many loyal supporters receiving the report annually, it’s important to keep them engaged from year-to-year and quickly highlight the impact of their contributions. This means aligning content, format, and imagery to create a compelling, easy-to-digest experience. For this year’s report, knowing most readers were already familiar with the organization’s core mission, we dramatically shortened the report, reduced paper use, and introduced a new double-fold format to keep things exciting. We structured the content around four key areas of work—dedicating a panel to each—and pulled out key stats throughout the brochure to maintain interest and support quick scanning.
Clarity and Engagement through Storytelling and Design
Crafting concise, engaging content is all about balance—and creating visual and narrative consistency across the piece. Each of the four panels focuses on a core area of the organization’s work. For each, we provide a clear overview, showcase authentic images of the community, layer in native plant imagery, and highlight compelling stats or anecdotes to bring the story to life. A cohesive color palette, thoughtful typography, and tree ring-inspired design elements tie everything together and reinforce the theme of resilience. stats or annecdotes to tell the real story of the work being done.
Extending Reach: Leveraging Content across Platforms
We see each annual report not as a standalone deliverable, but as an opportunity to extend the organization’s message across channels. Once the design is finalized, we build out a suite of digital assets—social media graphics, email headers, and other visual tools—to ensure brand consistency and expand the report’s reach. With a strong design system in place, it’s easy to then adapt the look and feel across platforms and connect with a wider audience.
Design That Grows With the Mission
Speak for the Trees works at the intersection of environmental justice, equity, public health, and climate resilience—advocating for a greener, more equitable Boston. Our design partnership supports and amplifies that mission. By getting to know our client—and crafting clear, engaging, and adaptable communications—we help the organization tell its story, mobilize support, and deepen its connection with the communities it serves.
