Online Annual Report

Scenario: You are a web designer working for an advertising agency. The account executive has recently landed a project to develop an online annual report for a large corporation. The client has asked that the design be intuitive and user friendly.

The client has asked that the following web pages be developed:

1. Main Navigation Page (with animated splash feature)
2. Site Map (category index of the annual report)
3. Message from the CEO (letter to the shareholders)
4. Mission Statement (self imposed goal for the company)
5. Products (products or services rendered)
6. Performance (market growth or decline)
7. Balance Sheet (financial statement)

The client will supply copy and logo. The client has also asked that the files be put on a server for the board of directors to see.

You will work with your art director on research, idea exploration, and concept development. You will submit thumbnails to the art director, who will then choose 3 concepts to develop into 3 tight roughs. Once the roughs have been approved by the art director, the client will select one for the final comp.

In order to make sure that the job is scheduled appropriately, works online correctly and all electronic files are configured correctly you will be in close contact with the production manager. The final comprehensive design will need to simulate the final online project as closely as possible.

Student Examples:   2007

Calendar

Step 1: Meet with your projects instructor.

  1. Go to the annual report web project page and collect the project information:
    1. Projects Course Syllabus
  2. Print out a copy of the sign-off sheet
  3. Schedule a meeting with the projects instructor, who will be your account executive for this project.

Step 2: Meet with your process instructor.

  1. Go to the annual report web process page and collect the process information.
    1. Process Course Syllabus
    2. Creative techniques to use
    3. Exercises
    4. Terminology
    5. Outcomes and criteria
    6. Instructions for presentation
  2. Schedule a meeting with the process instructor, who will be your art director for this project.

Step 3: Meet with your technology instructor.

  1. Go to the annual report web technology page and collect the tech information.
    1. Tech Course Syllabus
    2. Outcomes and criteria
    3. Software tutorials
    4. Exercises
    5. Instructions for presentation
    6. Assessment
  2. Schedule a meeting with the technology instructor, who will be your production manager for this project.
  3. Determine prerequisite skills necessary to complete the project.
  4. Go over Digital Strategy Worksheet with your instructor

Step 4: Complete project research.

  1. Define the target audience.
  2. Define the client need.
  3. Collect examples of annual report designs.

Step 5: Develop thumbnails

  1. Create three different concepts for the annual report design.
  2. Sketch the annual report design in thumbnail form.
  3. Verify that your work meets thumbnail criteria.
  4. Submit thumbnails to the art director for sign off / approval.

Step 6: Develop rough layouts.

  1. Develop roughs from thumbnails which were approved by the art director.
  2. Rough layouts will be to size of the final annual report and communicate more detail than the thumbnails.
  3. Verify that your work meets roughs criteria.
  4. Submit roughs to the art director for sign off / approval.

Step 7: Submit rough layouts to the client.

  1. After the art director approves your roughs, meet with the client and present your designs.
  2. The client will sign off and approve the design to be taken to final stage.

Step 8: Meet with the production manager.

  1. Determine the skills and steps needed to produce your design (digital strategy).
  2. Discuss your digital strategy with the production manager.
  3. Ask the production manager about any issues you are unsure of.
  4. When it is clear that you understand how to produce your design correctly and efficiently, the production manager will sign off / approve your strategy.

Step 9: Produce the digital comp.

  1. Create imagery using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
  2. Assemble text, images and create html documents using Macromedia Dreamweaver
  3. Conform to standard web criteria for all file preparation and type formatting.
  4. Make backup copies of all files after each work session.
  5. Print a black and white laser proof within a browser window and check for correctness and accuracy.
  6. Have "PEER REVIEW / CRITIQUE" of your grayscale digital comps.
  7. Make appropriate revisions.
  8. Copy all final documents to the server folder(s) specified by the client and production manager.
  9. Make an appointment with your art director for sign off / approval.

Step 10: Verify correct file preparation with your lab instructor.

  1. Using the web checklist have a "TECHNOLOGY PEER REVIEW" of your project files before meeting a lab instructor
  2. Make an appointment with your lab instructor to sign off on the following:
    1. hand in studio (lab) time sheet
    2. show back up filing system
    3. discuss file organization and naming conventions
    4. discuss learning strategies
  3. Verify:
    1. Correct raster file sampling and preparation.
    2. Correct font choices and styles
  4. Submit the completed checklist to your lab instructor for approval/ sign-off.

Step 11: Submit final comp to the client for sign off / approval.

  1. Project should be linked up to the roster page provided.
  2. Project should presented using the html template provided.
  3. Client should receive all digital documents and a composite pdf file on the server as specified by the client.
  4. Submit the project billing worksheet

Step 12: Fill out self-assessments: