ANNUAL REPORT • Baltimore Development Corporation • Agency: Illume
Client: Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) is the economic development agency for Baltimore City, responsible for retaining and attracting businesses, expanding job opportunities and increasing investment.
Goal: present BDC’s mission, project highlights and financial data in a clear, easily accessible format. BDC's previous reports, drawn from various city agencies (e.g. finance, transportation, planning) often lacked overall cohesion, and information density was not particularly engaging.
Challenge: translating raw map data into a book-sized spread, while retaining legibility and accuracy. Streamlining was necessary – simplifying the overview map allowed the reader, at a glance, to identify project “hot spots” throughout the city.
Result: Financial data remains the centerpiece, but the report also works on a “coffee table” level. Adding some "breathing room" and tasteful photography helped it appeal to a wider audience and more potential investors.
Role: Design and production