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The Progressive Corporation: Annual Report 2020

An Annual Report with a Resilient Streak

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

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10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
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The George Gund Foundation: Annual Website 2019

A novel digital strategy that evokes hope and action

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

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10803 Magnolia Dr,
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216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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The Progressive Corporation: Annual Report 2019

Thinking Broadly in Annual Report Design

The Progressive Corporation: Annual Report 2019

Thinking Broadly in Annual Report Design

N+S captured the theme "think broadly" through the depth, diversity, and global perspective of The Progressive Corporation's extensive art collection. N+S curated a selection of fine art to be featured in the annual report design, highlighting visual relationships between the work of various artists.

The design recreates the physical experience of viewing the collection in the Progressive offices. This is conveyed through the layout of the printed report as well as in a companion poster, featuring Jeffrey Gibson's artwork, and the dynamic development of the annual report microsite.

At a time when many Progressive employees were working remotely due to nationwide quarantines in response to COVID-19, the poster acted as a unifying print piece that echoed the importance of perseverance in the face of change and the corporation's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.

The Work

The Progressive Corporation collection features more than 10,000 contemporary artworks, representing more than 2,000 artists from 70 different countries. To capture the depth and diversity of the corporate collection, N+S featured work from 30 artists from around the world in our annual report design to encapsulate the "think broadly" theme.

The artwork A Change is Gonna Come, by contemporary American painter and sculptor Jeffrey Gibson, drove the overall visual design. Gibson's meticulously crafted painting served as the report's cover. It was acquired by Progressive in 2019.

Cover of the 2019 Progressive Corporation annual report design, featuring Jeffrey Gibson "A Change is Gonna Come" artwork Two spreads from the 2019 Progressive Corporation annual report design that call out the Think Broadly theme using typography

The Results

Fine art, including painting, photography, and sculpture, can be found on nearly every page of this year's annual report. Carefully curated to create visual relationships and emphasize juxtaposition, the artwork illustrates the ways in which competing and even opposing perspectives can exist together.

Spread from the 2019 Progressive Corporation annual report design featuring Valerie Hegarty and Ayana V. Jackson artworks

As you move through the report, you find yourself confronted with close-up details of selected artworks—just to flip the page and discover the work pulled away from you to expose the entire artwork. This layout design mimics the physical experience of viewing art. Just as you would if you were to experience the artwork in one of Progressive's office buildings, you can lean in to inspect the details of a piece and then step back to observe the full scale of the work.

Spread from the 2019 Progressive Corporation annual report design featuring Beau Chamberlain "Bound to Grow" artwork Spread from 2019 Progressive Corporation annual report design featuring full bleed Beau Chamberlain "Bound to Grow" artwork

The images are balanced against a color palette pulled from Gibson's artwork and typography, which calls for readers to think, imagine, and grow. The overall effect allows the fixtures of a standard annual report, such as the letter to shareholders and financial highlights, to resonate more purposefully and intentionally with readers. The report itself seems to think in the broadest terms—across artistic disciplines and mediums as well as beyond the bounds of a corporate report.

Spread from the 2019 Progressive Corporation annual report design featuring the artwork "Sling" by Amy Casey Spread from the 2019 Progressive Corporation annual report design featuring Ann Toebbe and William Swanson artworks

This year, the annual report design included a separate poster. Folded, it mirrors the cover of the report, but as you open it, you move again from the detailed examination of Gibson's artwork to the whole image. At a time when many Progressive employees were working remotely due to nationwide quarantines in response to COVID-19, the poster acted as a unifying print piece that echoed the importance of perseverance in the face of change and the corporation's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Every Progressive employee had the opportunity to have the poster delivered to their homes.

The annual report microsite was also designed in support of the theme influenced by the message in Gibson's work, the website design challenges the viewers expectations of how a website should work by swapping the well-traveled vertical axis for the horizontal. This change is intentionally surprising and disorienting, but the thoughtful design solution helps viewers quickly adapt and enjoy the experience.

GIF animation of the 2019 Progressive Corporation annual report web design, featuring Jeffrey Gibson artwork on the microsite

The dynamic web development creates an overall design experience that brings the "think broadly" theme to life. Images from the collection move away from you as you scroll, allowing an examination of the artwork detail as well as a moment to experience the full piece. Ultimately, the design reinforces Progressive's versatility and overarching commitment to progress while simultaneously creating a novel digital experience.

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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Array of spreads from the Bechtel annual report design

Bechtel: The Bechtel Report

An annual report designed to capture innovation

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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Detailed view of the PROOF book cover design, which features a Michael Caine contact sheet

PROOF: Photography in the Era of the Contact Sheet

Bringing the photographer’s process into focus

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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Front and back views of various notecards from The George Gund Foundation identity system

The George Gund Foundation: Identity

A brand that builds communities

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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The George Gund Foundation: Annual Website

A fresh approach to web design for nonprofits

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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Array of business cards showing new brand design and identity for Fairport Wealth

Fairport Wealth: Identity

A brand identity for a company that builds more than just wealth

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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Artboard 4

CWRU School of Medicine: “Visionaries” Campaign

Envisioning the future of medical education

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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The Progressive Corporation: 2018 Annual Report

A print and digital annual report that’s true to its name

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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White Ulmer logo design with blue line under the letter "U" and the company tagline reading, "Our business begins with you"

Ulmer Attorneys: Identity

A superior rebranding for a superior firm

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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Logo design for FRONT International, featuring black and green typeface

FRONT International: Identity

A captivating brand identity for a citywide art triennial

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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The George Gund Foundation: 2017 Annual Report

An annual report that gets political

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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Food photography of lobster risotto, art directed by Nesnadny and Schwartz for the Cru Uncorked identity

Cru Uncorked: Website, Menus, and More

Identity materials to savor for this French New American fine dining restaurant

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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An array of covers of the 2017 Bechtel annual report design, “Dream Big”

Bechtel: The 2017 Annual Report

An annual report that dared to dream big

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

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Inside front cover of Changing Minds annual report design for The George Gund Foundation with photograph by Lisa Kessler

The George Gund Foundation: Changing Minds Exhibition

An exhibition that illuminates how Cleveland reenvisioned public education

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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

  • Facebook
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Nesnadny + Schwartz is a graphic design firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. Our creativity is grounded in logic, informed by research, and fed by the fine arts.

N+S

10803 Magnolia Dr,
Cleveland, OH 44106
216.791.7721
hello@nsideas.com

  • Facebook
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  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn