There are gems hidden throughout Hager Group’s mobile annual report 2017/18. The mobile app may seem basic at the outset but is a joy to access. It builds a holistic picture of a global giant – a provider of solutions and services for electrical installations in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
Guided by its theme, ‘Building Bridges’, the app incorporates photography, illustration, and subtle animation to maintain consistency throughout. Cinemagraphs (photographs in which subtle movements are repeated) add a sense of interactivity to the user experience.
Navigating the app is as easy as flipping the pages of a book – it’s perfectly structured. Each section listed out on the home page opens up to detailed discussions and written interviews with key players within the group. The sans serif typeface in readable sizes also facilitates easy reading but the lengthy text is difficult to follow for those who prefer to skim a report.
Punctuating the text are brief video interviews with members of the team. These are refreshingly short as each video lasts for a maximum of five minutes. So, although the text is not structured to help a three minute reader, the videos play an important role in summarizing the content in each of the sections.
It’s interesting to note that this style hasn’t been consistently carried out throughout the report. But given that it’s important to have a human element to a group of such scale, the reason behind maintaining this balance can be surmised.
The simplicity and professionalism of this mobile app lends it great value. It doesn’t have any mind- blowing tricks up its sleeve but maintains a healthy balance between interactivity and reporting – effortlessly bridging the gap between the printed annual report and digital reporting.
