Cog Design creates infographic-rich Arts Council annual report

The consultancy is one of 12 agencies on the Arts Council roster, and this is the third annual report it has created for the organisation.

The annual report is published online as an accessible PDF and an A4, 148-page bound print document – a statutory requirement for the reports – though Cog says only around 100 to 150 will be printed, with most readers viewing it online.

Michael Smith, Cog Design director, says, ‘The big design challenge is to work within the rigid legal framework of a Parliamentary publication (it’s officially published through The Stationery Office), and the brand guidelines of the Arts Council.’

The Arts Council’s Frutiger typeface is used for the main text, and Cog added the serif Bella Heavy typeface for a more ‘illustrative’ heading, to add ‘interest and excitement’.

Smith adds, ‘[We had to] ensure it is accessible to the widest possible audience, and make it interesting and aligned to the Arts Council’s mission of  “Great Art for Everyone”.’

This is the first year that Cog has created infographics for the report, and these were created to be viewed as stand-alone, interactive elements online.

Images were chosen to represent the diversity of the different art forms across all regions of England. The cover image is taken from a Cultural Olympiad project called Creating the Spectacle by Sue Austin.