Philadelphia Legal Assistance
Starting From Scratch
When we began designing annual reports for Philadelphia Legal Assistance in FY2015, the organization had almost no printed materials to its name. The report was one of the primary tools their Executive Director brought to meetings with potential donors, partners, and funders. We've designed every annual report since — and are currently at work on FY2025.
Designed Around a Theme
Each year we meet with the PLA team to brainstorm a theme that shapes the entire publication. In 2017, black and white photography punctuated with teal and orange gave the report a bold, progressive feel. In 2019, hand-created block printing developed specifically for that issue gave it warmth and texture unlike anything produced digitally. By 2022, the design had evolved to reflect the brand language PLA had fully developed — colors, type, and all.
A Design That Grew With the Organization
Around 2018, PLA began developing a defined visual identity. We adapted alongside them, moving from theme-driven creative freedom into a more systemized approach without losing the publication's sense of purpose. What began as a 16-page printed report eventually became a microsite, with PLA's web team building on our annual design as a digital experience starting around 2020.
