Start Network
2024 marked the first year of Start Network’s new three-year strategy, setting the stage for a refreshed narrative and visual approach.
Annual Report Design + Strategy + Accessible Template Design
Context
Start Network is a global alliance of 134 humanitarian organisations working to make crisis response faster, fairer and more locally led. In 2024, the network provided £37 million in rapid funding, supported 2.5 million people and protected 790,000 before disasters struck.
We helped Start Network bring greater clarity and confidence to their Annual Report. Through stakeholder interviews, we clarified the narrative, defined key messages and shaped a more accessible, visual story. The result is a report that makes global impact easier to understand and share, helping Start Network demonstrate its scale, purpose and leadership.
Immersion
We began by interviewing key stakeholders across the Start Network team. These conversations revealed a need to shift the focus from activity reporting to impact storytelling. Our role was to bridge the gap between complex global operations and clear, compelling communication.
Strategy
Working closely with the communications team, we defined a structure that placed local leadership, impact and progress at the heart of the story. The report was shaped around Start Network’s four core strengths — networker, funder, innovator and influencer — giving clear structure to the organisation’s achievements and ambitions.
Expression
We created a clear narrative, then brought it to life through accessible design and compelling visuals. The Annual Report combined bold data storytelling with human-led examples, supported by infographics, photography and inclusive layout choices.
To extend the reach of the report, we developed a digital campaign including social media graphics and an animated video. These assets helped Start Network share its story across channels and with partners around the world.
Impact
The Annual Report gave Start Network a stronger platform to showcase its leadership and impact. Internally, it became a reference point for messaging and narrative. Externally, it reinforced the network’s credibility and clarity with funders, partners and the wider humanitarian sector.
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