Our long-standing banking client GFH (formerly known as Gulf Finance House), is one of the leading financial investment companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the GCC. Established in 1999, the firm has been a client of the agency for nearly a decade - the agency has been responsible for all of their annual reports since we rebranded the bank in 2013. The 2021annual report has been praised far and wide and we have prepared another great report for the 2022 review.

The creative challenge we had in creating the 2022 Report was how to create an expanded version of previously released calendar concept. The client's Corporate Communications team were so pleased by the calendar they wanted the concept to be applied to a full annual and ESG report. The creative team at Unisono accepted this challenge and set to work creating this 'on-trend' annual report.

The theme behind the calendar was about spotting trends. By looking at large enough datasets over a long enough time frame, macro trends can be observed. This formed the basis of our creative solution for GHF's 2022 Annual Report. 

This year's report retained the brand's typographic styling and built upon the trend line theme of the calendar to create a thematic expression from charts to image treatments. This retained a visual link to the 2022 calendar and allowed the report express its unique properties too. As with the previous year's annual report, we created a standout section for the special report on ESG using a unique ink and paper.

Like in previous years, this report's information graphics make a story out of the data. They create interesting viewing from the report's financial data and allow the brands financial performance to pop. From charts and graphs to maps and timelines, the black and sport varnish treatments helps key data to stand out and get noticed.

We worked on the ever aspect of the report, from design and copywriting to the crafting of the print production. The covers of the reports feature a fold back section complete with embossing and foil to create a truly unique front cover. The second book is a reflection of the first but in white. The two volumes are encased in a slipcase that has a trend line spot varnished pattern with a trend line slip in the case, revealing the right red internal section. 

The end result of the 2022 GHF Annual Report project is a truly unique and creative report that begs attention and deliver on the curiosity of readers. The reception to the report from all recipients has nothing short of fabulous and we are delighted to learn that stakeholders from the CEO down have been highly positive towards the end results of our works.

Hisham Alrayes, the CEO of GFH commented "The clarity of thinking and quality of execution is world class; our shareholders are empowered through a clear perspective on our past performance and future prospects". Praise indeed. 

We thank GFH and all of the corporate comms team for their efforts in bringing this report to the world. We can not do this work alone.