How to make reports more interesting

Let’s be honest. When I say the word “report,” most people don’t light up with excitement. In fact, you might feel a twinge of dread. Reports often feel like homework—tedious to write and even harder to read.

But here’s the truth: reports can be one of the most valuable tools an organization has. Whether it’s an annual report, a case for support, or an impact report, these documents are powerful opportunities to communicate your mission, share your accomplishments, and clarify your goals in a cohesive and thoughtful way.

When crafted with intention, storytelling, and strong design, a report becomes more than just a summary. It becomes a long-term asset. It can help funders understand your impact, engage your community, and build trust with partners.

At Viscera Studio, we’ve helped clients turn their reports into compelling and memorable narratives that people actually want to read. Here are a few examples of how we’ve supported organizations by writing, designing, and positioning reports that are clear, engaging, and true to their mission:

7th Street Thrives 

An organization created by LISC and East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooprative, 7th street thrives, brought together stakeholders and neighbors to revitalize and invest in the vibrant 7th street corridor. We pulled from decades of prior reports and community engagement efforts to help build and deliver their vision for the future of 7th street. 

SHCLA Case for Support 

As a unique organization working to stablize and increase permanently supportive housing, SHCLA had a very compelling case for support and incredible research and details, however, they needed help parsing information to be more accessible and understandable by a wider range of readers. We helped to give the infomraiotn n their report hierarchy and to add in visual elements that reflected the biophilic and calm spaces the create for the communities.