Sunrise Banks Impact Reports

Challenge:
When I joined Sunrise Banks, the annual impact report existed as a basic in-house video. There was a need to elevate the format into a more powerful, emotionally resonant storytelling piece that could support business development and employee advocacy.

Solution:
I led the transformation of the impact report into an experience-driven microsite and companion print booklet that evolved year over year, each edition introducing new interactive, tactile elements to deepen reader engagement and amplify the bank’s mission. What started as a printed booklet grew into a signature brand asset used by the CEO, sales team, and external stakeholders to communicate Sunrise’s purpose and performance.

My Contributions (2015–2021):

• 2015 Report
  • Solely responsible for design, project management, and print production
  • Introduced the first saddle-stitched booklet distributed across sales teams and branches
     
• 2016–2019 Reports
  • Hired and directed freelance designers
  • Set creative direction and led project management from concept through print
  • Introduced new interactive print techniques: flaps, embedded envelopes, and a fold-out infographic map
  • Sparked a CEO-led “unboxing” video to highlight the design’s storytelling value
     
• 2019 Report
  • Designed with a field journal aesthetic and custom illustrations to evoke environmental themes
  • Incorporated rippling water lines and topographic maps to visualize the impact of climate change
     
• 2020–2021 Reports
  • Hired and led creative agency partners for the design and development of an interactive digital microsite
  • Maintained print component to meet internal demand for tangible sales collateral
  • Defined art direction, managed content flow, and oversaw final approvals and production

Impact:

• Created a beloved, enduring asset that strengthened Sunrise’s storytelling and brand identity
• Tangible reports became a go-to sales and customer relations tool, requested year after year
• Inspired executive leadership engagement and elevated internal awareness of the bank’s impact
• Successfully transitioned from analog to hybrid formats, introducing new digital storytelling opportunities without losing tactile value