Project Management
Creative Municipal Annual Reports
MY ROLE: Project Manager
CLIENT: Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency
“UNCOVER GNV” DECODER REPORT (2016)
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Liquid Creative Studio
“SUNDAY COMICS” REPORT (2015)
CARTOONISTS: Sequential Artists Workshop
What would compel you to read a municipal report?
While Florida legislation legally obligates CRAs to produce a publicly available annual report, they don’t require the content or format to be interesting. Outside of local taxing entities, we found that few citizens were in the habit of routinely reading municipal reports.
Our agency seized the annual report requirement as an opportunity to create a marketing centerpiece that could be re-used throughout the year. In this way, we maximized staff time spent preparing the document by prolonging its usefulness and relevance.
Gainesville CRA leadership was invested in increasing engagement with diverse citizen groups. In 2016 and 2015, I led the development of two of our annual reports.
We hired local artists from our districts, to reinvest in our creative arts community. Each report promoted our progress on capital projects and other initiatives.
FY15 “Uncover GNV” Decoder Glasses Report (2016)
The Gainesville CRA partnered with local graphic design firm Liquid Creative Studio to produce this unique annual report. Many people recognize Gainesville CRA projects but don’t immediately see how interconnected they are.
The Liquid Creative team created a functional tour map to encourage citizens to “Uncover GNV” and explore Gainesville’s vibrant urban districts. The map key included detailed information on each redevelopment project. The interactive annual report included red decoder glasses so readers could uncover interesting new trivia about projects and accomplishments. (The report is still functional without the glasses, but the lenses allowed viewers to dive a little deeper.)
The report was strategically designed using delicate layers of blue and red inks. Red patterns hid information, until the viewer put on the glasses to uncover the blue text underneath. A modified digital version of the report was created with a red screen simulation, so viewers could view the information without decoder glasses. A non-decoded version of the report was also available on request.
My role on this project involved: completing the local vendor spend financial analysis, compiling the annual report narrative copy, collaborating with the graphic design team at Liquid Creative, coordinating print production/distribution, and presenting the final report to the City Commission.
The 2015 fiscal year report was released in spring 2016. Copies of the annual report were distributed at the new Bo Diddley Plaza informational kiosk. Stacks were hand-delivered to elected officials and presented at all four citizen advisory board meetings. I had the opportunity to share the Gainesville CRA’s creative annual report approach with industry peers at the Florida Redevelopment Association’s 2016 annual conference. I served as a panelist on the topic of “Techniques to Comply with State Requirements for CRAs”.
FY14 “Sunday Comics” Report (2015)
The Gainesville CRA partnered with local comic artists at the Sequential Artists Workshop (SAW) to design and illustrate our annual report. Unique to the Gainesville CRA’s Downtown redevelopment district, SAW is one of only three comic book schools in the country. As a project manager for the CRA, I partnered with this local cartoon/graphic novels school to transform our state-mandated annual report into a piece of art.
Talented cartoonists from the SAW hand-drew 16 custom illustrations ranging from a Peanuts-styled sketch about the CRA’s façade grant program results to a Dilbert-inspired office strip about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into revitalizing urban spaces. The illustrations were all hand-drawn in pencil, laboriously inked, and then colorized electronically.
Since the product was printed on recycled newsprint, it was cheaper to distribute. More than 31,000 copies of the “Sunday comics” annual report parody were distributed through the Gainesville Sun newspaper, City Hall and other outlets—breaking a new engagement record for the agency.
My role on this project involved: working with the City of Gainesville’s legal team to get our comics parody approved, collaborating with the SAW artistic team, compiling copy for the factual sidebars, coordinating print production, and presenting the final report to the City Commission. The 2014 fiscal year report was released in spring 2015.
This unique community outreach effort was awarded a 2015 Bronze Excellence in Economic Development Award in the Annual Report category for Small Cities (with a population of 25,000-200,000) from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). It also won an ADDY professional award from the Gainesville Chapter of the American Advertising Federation.
2016 & 2015 Production Credits
These projects wouldn’t have happened without partnerships with creative local artists and with significant collaboration from multiple City of Gainesville staff members. Particular credit goes to:
FY15 “Uncover GNV” Annual Report (2016)
Liquid Creative Studio - Graphic Design
Vice President of Operations Scott Schroeder
Graphic Designer Hector del Valle
Account Manager Rebecca Wentworth
City of Gainesville
CRA City Manager Anthony Lyons
CRA Interim Director Sarah Vidal
Project Manager Nathalie Kinsey
Facilities Manager Kelly Gillen (finance support)
FY14 Sunday Comics Annual Report (2015)
Sequential Artists Workshop - Illustration
SAW Executive Director Tom Hart
Master Artist Barefoot Justine
Colorist Sally Cantirino
City of Gainesville
CRA Director Anthony Lyons
CRA Manager Sarah Vidal
Project Manager Nathalie Kinsey
Project Manager Philip Hall (videography)
Gainesville City Attorney’s office
Other Partners
Audio Recording Medusa Studios
Print Production Gainesville Sun