1871 is Chicago’s entrepreneurial hub for digital startups. As the inaugural annual report, 1871 wanted a book to be a vibrant showcase for the stakeholders and their community.

The 1871 Annual Report is a set of loose-leaf publications sectioned out via different talking points. Each piece features its own uniquely illustrated cover, contrasted by consistent spine and back covers. This being their first AR, it lacks the year-to-year data for traditional annual reporting. To call out 2014’s highlights, the design treats the at-a-glance section as back covers large call-outs. This approach allows for quick glance of 1871’s accomplishments and the energy from their diverse community by just flipping through the front and back covers. The AR is housed in a custom die-cut binder, which represent the physical space of 1871 that supports a diverse group of thinkers, educators, and startups.