USAID ANNUAL REPORT Samples

EXIM’s Competitiveness Reports and Annual Reports

2018 – 2022

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) is a self-sustaining credit agency supporting American jobs by facilitating the export of U.S. goods. As a prime contractor, Sage has worked with EXIM on 10 publications to date from annual reports to Congressional competitiveness reports.

A lack of quorum on EXIM’s board of directors from July 2015 to May 2019 prevented EXIM from approving long-term export finance transactions. As a result, EXIM submitted a 70+ page Competitiveness Report to Congress in 2019 emphasizing the impact of EXIM’s absence in the U.S. export community. Sage’s challenge was to conceptualize and execute a design and full interior layout of the Competitiveness Report, all while communicating in creative yet respectful ways, EXIM’s competitive disadvantage in 2018 and growth in 2019 - 2022.

EXIM’s objectives with their annual reports to date are to highlight customer success stories, EXIM’s vital role in supporting American jobs and EXIM’s financial activity. All 70+ page reports were distributed amongst internal and external stakeholders as well as Congress. Similar to the Competitiveness Reports, Sage’s challenge is to conceptualize and execute an engaging design theme and full interior layout for the annual reports.

For all reports, Sage first holds kick-off meetings with EXIM leadership to discuss potential design concepts, key verbal themes, objectives and positioning of the reports. Sage then ideates two to three cover and interior design concepts for each with written rationales and presents said concepts to EXIM. With concepts approved, Sage works closely with EXIM to lay out the full-color reports and carry the chosen verbal themes throughout using strategic design and real photography, charts and illustrations. To present a strong, consistent brand, Sage establishes graphic standards for the reports including colors; fonts; image styles; page formats; text formats for section titles, chapter headings, subheadings, call outs, quotes, photo captions, footnotes and financials; data chart formats; infographics; and strategic placement of EXIM’s logo on both front and back covers. Sage proposes clean, sophisticated approaches to present the content clearly, and includes high-end, full-bleed photography of related solutions or real EXIM customers to represent the diversity of EXIM’s community. Sage guides EXIM on the selection of said photography and provides photographic treatment services as needed such as resizing, cropping and retouching the photos to ensure production of professional high-quality deliverables. Sage prepares all reports for print and web distribution, ensuring the print mechanicals meet GPO requirements, and the web-ready PDFs achieve appropriate color contrast and meet Section 508 compliance. Sage also optimizes all graphics to meet appropriate resolutions, sizes and file types for viewing on web and print.

Sage takes all necessary steps to ensure schedules are adhered to and final deliverables are submitted on time. Any changes in scope activity that impact budget are presented to EXIM by Sage for approval before contract modifications are drafted and implemented. Additionally, Sage provides EXIM with an overview of the phases and production schedules with key dates and milestones. Sage’s account management team works closely with all parties to ensure quality control and accuracy of all deliverables, and senior members of Sage’s creative team review all design concepts to ensure delivery of high-quality, complete work.

Sage’s services include: creative concept development, design, layout and formatting, mechanical production, content development, Section 508 compliance, account and project management, print specifications development and preparation of GPO forms.