A Reader Friendly Cover for an Informational Report
An informational report does not argue for anything. It informs: it presents facts, figures and updates for the year. The cover should look neutral and tidy. This design shows a photograph of colourful bar charts and lines, edged with a thick purple curve, with a simple stacked title in purple and black. It suits associations, schools, departments and companies that issue yearly updates.
The Chart Photo and Purple Edge
The page is 8.5 x 11 inches, portrait, one page. A photo of printed charts on a desk fills the upper half. A purple line follows its lower edge in a rounded V shape. A black wedge at the foot closes the page. The shapes are graphics, and the photo can be replaced with a picture that fits your subject.
Title and Year Range
Annual Informational appears in purple, REPORT in white on a black bar, and 20XX-20XX below it. The year range suits reports that cover a school year or a financial year. If your report covers one calendar year, enter a single year. You can replace Informational with a word such as Community, Membership or Programme.
Prepared By Details
Under the year, Prepared By: is followed by a name, a job title and the company name in square brackets. Replace the placeholder with the actual organisation. If more than one person contributed, list the team or department instead.
The Black Wedge Paragraph
A heading, Lorem Ipsum Heading, and two lines of white text sit on the black wedge. Use it for a short statement of what the report contains, for example Programme results, finances and plans for the next year.
What an Informational Report Should Include
- A short message from the leader.
- Key facts in a clear table or chart.
- Highlights, events and milestones.
- Financial summary in plain words.
- Contact details for questions.
Editing and Printing for the Informational Report Cover
The fonts are Noto Sans and Inter. Text edits freely. Print on 120 gsm paper or share as a PDF. Check that the white words on the black bar are crisp.
Keeping Facts Neutral in an Informational Report
An informational report presents facts without pushing a view. Use neutral words, show the source of each figure and state the period it covers. If you must include an opinion, label it as such. Readers return to reports that they can trust.
Reaching Readers Who Skim
Many readers skim a report for the numbers. Use clear headings, short paragraphs and a table of the key facts on page two. The cover should promise only what the report delivers, so check that the title matches the contents.
Adding a Contents List and Page Numbers
Even a short informational report benefits from a contents list. Add it on page two with page numbers, and keep headings consistent with the list. Readers who need only one section can then jump to it, and the report feels organised from the first glance.
Try too the formal and informal report cover. A related layout is the analytical report cover page. Also worth a look: annual report cover page. Find more designs next to the informational report cover in business and report cover pages.
