Interactive Report Design
Turn complex reports into clear, engaging digital experiences
An interactive report can make complex information far easier to understand.
Instead of asking readers to work through page after page, it can help them find, explore and understand the information that matters to them.
Interactive reports combine publication design with digital functionality to create a more flexible and engaging way to communicate data, findings, performance and analysis.
They can include interactive navigation, charts, data visualisation, expandable content, video, case studies, downloads and direct links to supporting information.
At Toast, we design interactive reports around the information itself and the way different audiences need to use it.
That might mean an annual report, impact report, ESG report, research publication, performance review or any other document containing complex information that benefits from a more digital approach.
What makes a report genuinely interactive?
Interactivity should help readers understand the report, not distract from it.
The strongest interactive reports use digital functionality to simplify navigation, reveal detail when required and make complex information more accessible without overwhelming the page.
Interactive navigation
Help different audiences move quickly to the sections that matter to them.
- Clickable contents and menus
- Section navigation
- Jump links
- Tabbed content
- Expandable sections
- Guided journeys
Good navigation is particularly useful for long reports, multiple stakeholder groups and publications with several distinct sections.
Best for: annual reports, ESG reports, impact reports, research publications and performance reviews.
Interactive data and content
Use digital features to make findings, evidence and stories easier to explore.
- Interactive charts
- Data visualisation
- Animated statistics
- Expandable case studies
- Video
- Image galleries
- Downloads
- Links to supporting data
These features can provide depth without forcing every detail onto the main page.
Best for: complex data, performance reporting, research findings, impact stories and reports containing large amounts of supporting information.
What can an interactive report do?
The value of interactivity is not the technology itself. It is the ability to make complex information easier to navigate, understand and use.
| Capability | Conventional PDF Report | Interactive Report |
| Clickable navigation | Limited | ✓ |
| Expandable content | ✓ | |
| Interactive charts | ✓ | |
| Animated statistics | ✓ | |
| Embedded video | Limited / linked | ✓ |
| Interactive case studies | Limited | ✓ |
| Downloads and supporting files | ✓ | ✓ |
| Links to source data | ✓ | ✓ |
| Browser-based experience | ✓ | |
| Mobile-friendly interaction | Limited | ✓ |
We use interaction to improve clarity, accessibility and engagement.
What should an interactive report help readers understand?
A report should make important information easy to find and easy to interpret.
Depending on the subject, it could help readers understand:
Performance
Present results, progress, KPIs and outcomes in a clear, structured way.
Data and trends
Use charts and visualisation to make patterns, comparisons and change easier to understand.
Findings
Explain research, analysis or conclusions without burying the key messages in dense pages of copy.
Impact
Combine statistics with case studies, stories, photography and video to show what the numbers mean in practice.
Context
Provide supporting information, methodology, definitions and source material without interrupting the main narrative.
What happens next
Give readers clear routes to download data, explore related information, make contact or continue to another relevant resource.
Interactive report design starts with the reader
We do not begin by deciding what should move or animate.
We begin by understanding the audiences using the report, the information they need and how much detail they are likely to want.
That helps us structure the publication so readers can move quickly between headline findings and supporting evidence.
- Who needs to use the report?
- What are the headline messages?
- Which information needs more explanation?
- Where would charts or visualisation help?
- Which supporting detail can sit behind expandable content?
- What should readers be able to do next?
What types of reports can be interactive?
Interactive reporting works particularly well where information is detailed, data-heavy or intended for several audiences.
A browser-based format makes it easier to structure the experience around different types of content and different levels of detail.
Annual reports
Present performance, strategy, financial information and highlights in a more accessible digital format.
ESG and sustainability reports
Use data visualisation, targets, case studies and supporting evidence to communicate progress clearly.
Impact reports
Combine statistics with stories, photography and video to show the real-world effect of your work.
Research reports
Help readers navigate findings, methodology, charts and supporting data without losing the main narrative.
Performance reports
Present KPIs, outcomes and trends in a format that makes comparison and progress easier to understand.
Stakeholder reports
Create clear routes through information for investors, partners, employees, customers or other stakeholder groups.
Campaign and project reports
Bring together results, insight, case studies and supporting evidence in a more engaging digital publication.
Turn an existing report into a digital experience
If you already have a printed report or PDF, it can provide a strong starting point.
Existing copy, charts, tables, case studies and imagery can often be reused.
But simply reproducing the same pages online can make a long report just as difficult to navigate as the printed version.
An interactive report gives us the opportunity to reorganise the content, surface headline findings, hide supporting detail until it is needed and introduce charts, video, downloads and better navigation.
We can assess your existing report and identify opportunities to add:
- Interactive navigation →
- Charts and data visualisation →
- Expandable supporting detail →
- Video and case studies →
- Downloads and source data →
- or a complete redesign around the digital reading experience
Designed for digital reporting from the start
The strongest interactive reports are structured around the digital reading experience from the beginning.
We consider hierarchy, navigation, data, supporting detail and interaction before the visual design is finalised, so the publication remains clear even when the information is complex.
That means thinking about:
- Information hierarchy
- Section navigation
- Headline findings
- Charts and data visualisation
- Expandable detail
- Case studies and stories
- Mobile and desktop viewing
- Accessibility
- Downloads and supporting data
The result is a report designed to be explored rather than worked through page by page.
Our interactive report design process
Interactive reports need editorial thinking, information design and digital UX to work together.
We combine publication design with digital development so complex information remains structured, understandable and easy to navigate.
01. Discovery
We understand the report, audiences, objectives, content, data and how the finished publication will be used.
02. Content and hierarchy
We organise sections, findings, evidence and supporting detail into a clear information structure.
03. Interaction planning
We identify where navigation, charts, expandable content, video or other functionality will improve understanding.
04. Design
We create the visual language, layouts, chart styles and interaction states around your brand and reporting objectives.
05. Development
We build and test the interactive functionality across appropriate screen sizes and devices.
06. Launch
Your completed report is prepared for your website, stakeholder communications, campaigns and direct sharing.
Why choose Toast for your interactive report?
We combine nearly 30 years of publication design experience with digital design and development expertise
Interactive report design is primarily an information design challenge.
Technology only helps when the structure, hierarchy and visual communication have been thought through properly.
We bring together:
- Report and publication design
- Information architecture
- Data visualisation
- Digital UX
- Interactive design
- Editorial structure
- Brand understanding
- Web development
We can work from an existing report, Word document, spreadsheet, presentation or complete set of source material.
The objective is to make complex information feel clear, structured and engaging without oversimplifying it.
When should you choose an interactive report?
Interactive reports are particularly effective when readers need to explore complex information at different levels of detail.
Choose an interactive report when your publication contains substantial data, multiple sections, several stakeholder audiences or detailed supporting information.
It is especially useful when charts, expandable content, case studies, video or direct access to supporting data can make the report easier to understand and use.
Frequently asked questions about Interactive Reports
If you cannot find an answer on this page, get in touch and we will be happy to help
What is an interactive report?
An interactive report is a browser-based digital publication that combines report content with features such as interactive navigation, charts, data visualisation, expandable sections, video, downloads and links.
How is an interactive report different from a PDF?
A PDF presents information in a fixed document format. An interactive report can provide richer navigation, layered content, interactive data and a more flexible browser-based reading experience.
Can an interactive report include charts and data visualisation?
Yes. Charts, infographics and other visualisations can be designed to help readers understand comparisons, trends, performance and key findings more quickly.
Can supporting information be hidden until it is needed?
Yes. Expandable sections, tabs and layered content can keep the main page clear while still giving readers access to methodology, definitions, evidence and supporting detail.
Can an interactive report include downloads?
Yes. Readers can be given direct access to spreadsheets, appendices, source data, policy documents and other supporting files.
Will an interactive report work on mobile?
It can be designed responsively for desktop, tablet and mobile, with navigation, charts and content adapted appropriately for smaller screens.
Can you convert our existing PDF report?
Yes. Existing content and design can provide a starting point, but we will usually recommend adapting the structure to make proper use of the digital format.
Do interactive reports need lots of animation?
No. Movement should only be used where it helps explain information or improves the experience. Clarity is more important than visual effects.
Make your report easier to explore and understand
If your report contains more information than a conventional PDF can comfortably communicate, we can create an interactive digital version built around your readers.
From navigation and expandable content to data visualisation, video, case studies and supporting downloads, we will recommend the functionality that genuinely improves the reporting experience.
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- Email: [email protected]
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