Designing Impact: The Story Behind ARMMAN’s Annual Report

How we transformed ARMMAN’s annual report into a compelling, easy-to-read story showcasing 15 years of impact.
ARMMAN Annual Report

When Sumitra Devi from Manatu village in Jharkhand became pregnant for the first time, she found herself navigating the journey without the guidance of her late mother-in-law. That’s when a local ASHA worker introduced her to Kilkari—ARMMAN’s voice-based mobile service. Through weekly calls, Sumitra received vital information about nutrition, hygiene, and immunisations, all delivered in a comforting, familiar voice. To her, Dr Anita—the fictional doctor behind the Kilkari messages—became more than just a voice; she became a steady source of care and reassurance. 

Now, Sumitra is the proud mother of a four-month-old healthy baby. These are not merely moments of impact—these are the essence of ARMMAN’s work.

Our Design Approach 

When ARMMAN came to us to create their 2023–24 annual report, we knew we had a chance to create something impactful and innovative. They had completed 15 years of their operations. So, our goal was to present ARMMAN’s incredible work in an interactive and engaging way and at the same time highlight this milestone. So here are a few ways in which we did it:

Highlighting Key Numbers

We were working with a lot of information. ARMMAN had a treasure trove of data: crucial statistics, program achievements, and impact numbers. The challenge wasn’t just what to include but how to present it without losing the reader. Each number told a story and deserved to be noticed. For example, we used bold, oversized fonts to highlight statistics such as “46.4M women and children reached till date”, and “380K+ ASHAs trained till date.” These figures were carefully placed with contextual narratives so that even if someone just skimmed through, they wouldn’t miss it.

The challenge wasn’t just what to include but how to present it without losing the reader.

Celebrating a 15-Year Milestone

Fifteen years is a big milestone, and we didn’t want that to go unnoticed. We wove the number into the visual language of the report. You’d find it behind key images, in the founder’s note, and even on the cover. This added consistency but also gave the report a aesthetic feel without going over the top.

Enhancing Information Through Infographics

Some of the most impactful information was also the most complex, which becomes meaningful when presented visually. We created a detailed timeline infographic to highlight important moments in ARMMAN’s 15-year history. In order to give stakeholders clear, detailed insights into their training and decision-making processes, flowcharts were specifically used to highlight various programs.

Mapping ARMMAN’s Reach Across India

We wanted the map of India to do more than just show locations. It needed to reflect ARMMAN’s reach in a clean, thoughtful way. The simplified, uncluttered design highlighted states like Maharashtra, visually marking regions of high impact and ongoing programme implementations. The strategic use of icons and clear legends provided viewers with intuitive insights into geographic coverage and scale.

Integrating Photo Cut-Outs

We avoided using full-page photographs. Instead, we worked with photo cut-outs showcasing genuine moments captured among beneficiaries, healthcare workers, and ARMMAN’s dedicated team members. This style gave the report a lighter, more modern feel. The images blended into the design ensuring the stories remained front and center without overpowering it.

In the end, our job was to make data approachable. But more than that, we wanted readers to feel something. This wasn’t just a report—it was ARMMAN’s story. And we were proud to share it.

ARMMAN Annual Report

The Effect of Thoughtful Design

The aim was to let readers understand the main points at a glance while investigating further details if they wanted. And ARMMAN and its stakeholders had a really positive reaction overall. 

Shweta Thampan, Senior Communications Manager at ARMMAN, felt that the design process was smooth and collaborative. “They’re so easy to work with,” she noted, “thanks to their quick responses, minimal feedback, and handholding.” Her comment underscored how, when combined with clarity and purpose, design can become a universal language connecting different teams.

“They’re so easy to work with, thanks to their quick responses, minimal feedback, and handholding.”

This project showed that careful design can make complex things simpler, add a human touch to data, and showcase genuine impact. As design trends shift towards interactivity, motion, and personalisation, we’re passionate to explore new ways to tell powerful stories.

We at Simit Bhagat Studios turn complex information into powerful stories. Ready to turn your annual report into a narrative that engages stakeholders? Let’s talk about how our design approach can highlight your success and engage your audience.


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Swanand Deo

Web Development Specialist

Swanand Deo is a WordPress and Web Development Specialist working on various digital projects. With over a decade of experience in the design and development space, he has collaborated with over 50 national and international clients. He specialises in User Experience (UX) design, WordPress development, and creating engaging digital experiences. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Pune.

Mrinali Parmar

Associate (Partnerships)

Mrinali Parmar works on operations and building partnerships with social impact organisations. With five years of work experience, she has focused on education and promoting awareness of climate change and sustainability in her operations role. She holds a Master’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai and is passionate about linguistics, speaking six languages.

Swarnima Ranade

Voice Actress

Swarnima Ranade is a medical doctor turned voice actress who has done voice-over work for everything from commercials to documentaries to corporate narration to children’s books. She has worked with numerous noteworthy businesses in the past, such as Tata, Uber, Walmart, and YouTube Kids. She graduated from SVU in Gujarat with a degree in dental surgery.

Kumar Shradhesh Nayak

Illustrator

Kumar Shradhesh Nayak is a professional artist, illustrator, and graphic designer who studied at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in Hyderabad. His experience includes stints at EkakiVedam and Design Avenue, both of which are prominent advertising firms. He enjoys trying out new approaches to illustration and creates artwork for a variety of projects.

Divya Shree

Content Producer cum Editor

Divya Shree is a media alumna from Symbiosis Institute in Pune who loves producing and editing non-fiction content. She has directed, shot, and edited videos for various productions. Her strengths are research, audience awareness, and the presentation of intricate topics with clarity and interest.

Manish Mandavkar

Motion Editor

Manish Mandavkar has studied animation at Arena Animation in Mumbai. He has previously worked on animated videos and motion graphics for brands, including Unilever and Zee Movies. An avid gamer, he is also passionate about sketching and photography. He holds a degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai.

Joel Machado

Film Editor

Mumbai-based creative consultant and film editor Joel Machado has worked on documentaries as well as films in the mainstream Bollywood sector. He was also the Chief Assistant Director on the Jackie Shroff short, “The Playboy, Mr. Sawhney.” In addition to earning a B.Com from Mumbai University, he attended the city’s Digital Academy to hone his script writing skills.

Apoorva Kulkarni

Partnership Manager

Apoorva Kulkarni is the Partnerships Manager, and is responsible for developing strategic alliances and collaborative initiatives with other organisations in the social development ecosystem. For the past five years, she has been employed by major corporations, including Perthera (USA) and Genotypic Technology. She has written and published poetry, and she has been an integral part of The Bidesia Project. At Georgetown University in the United States, she earned a Master of Science in Bioinformatics.

Aliefya Vahanvaty

Sr. Creative Partner

Senior Creative Partner, Aliefya Vahanvaty has worked in a wide range of editorial roles over the course of her career, gaining experience as a correspondent, copy editor, writer, photographer, and assistant editor at publications like the Times of India, Forbes India, Open Magazine, Impact Magazine, and others. In addition to her MA in Sociology from Mumbai University, she also has an MA in Photojournalism from the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom.

Simit Bhagat

Founder

Founder, Simit Bhagat has worked in the fields of filmmaking, project management, and journalism for over 15 years. He has served in a variety of positions for organisations like the Times of India, the Maharashtra Forest Department, the Tata Trusts, and the Thomson Reuters Foundation. From the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, he earned a Master of Arts in Science, Society, and Development.