Fully Accessible CARO Annual Report 2024 by DesignWest
We’re delighted to share our latest graphic design and accessible PDF project for Mayo County Council: the CARO Annual Report 2024. Designed and built by the Designwest team, this 80+ page report blends clean, data-driven layout with stringent accessibility so every reader—across Mayo, Galway, Dublin and nationwide—can engage with the content.
The brief
Create a modern, government-grade annual report for the Climate Action Regional Offices (CARO) that’s visually strong, easy to navigate, and fully accessible to screen-reader users. Tight timelines, complex tables/figures, and multi-stakeholder approvals meant the file needed to be rock-solid technically as well as beautiful.
The challenge
Government publications must meet strict accessibility expectations. Early test passes flagged a few tricky items—image descriptions, reading order on select pages, and some duplicate/legacy alt text that persisted during export—even though everything was correctly tagged in InDesign. We took ownership of the fix list and went deeper.
Our solution (design + accessibility)
Design craft
- A clear grid system, generous white space and high-contrast typography for legibility.
- Colour-coded Work Packages, iconography and infographics to tell the story at a glance.
- Bilingual elements and captioning where needed.
- Image treatment that supports—not competes with—key figures and tables.
Accessibility remediation (PDF)
- Alt text: Every figure and image received meaningful, context-rich descriptions (not just labels).
- Reading order: Manually reviewed and corrected on pages with complex layouts so content reads in the intended sequence.
- Headings & structure: Logical H1–H3 hierarchy, tagged lists/tables, and consistent document language settings.
- Links & formality: Explicit link annotations, bookmarks and document properties for assistive tech.
- Contrast & legibility: Checked colour usage and type styles against accessibility guidance.
- Final pass in Acrobat: Where InDesign exports referenced previous alt text, we manually pasted the new descriptions in Acrobat and retested so screen readers read exactly what they should.
Result: a screen-reader friendly, easy-to-navigate report that meets the accessibility bar our client requires—without compromising design.
Highlights we love
- A crisp, government-ready cover that still feels contemporary.
- Infographic spreads that surface the numbers quickly.
- Case-study pages that balance photography with succinct takeaways.
Who this is for
Public bodies, NGOs and enterprises across Mayo (Castlebar, Ballina, Westport), Galway (city & county) and Dublin who need annual report design in Ireland that’s accessible by default—from brochures and rep
FAQs: Accessible Report & Brochure Design (Ireland)
1. Do you design accessible PDFs to WCAG / PDF/UA principles?
We design and remediate to the spirit of WCAG/PDF accessibility (proper tagging, headings, reading order, alt text, colour/contrast and link semantics). If you require formal certification, tell us and we’ll align with your process.
2. Can you fix accessibility on an existing PDF?
Yes— we audit, then remediate (tags, reading order, alt text, tables, lists, links, language, metadata) and re-test.
3. Do you work with government accessibility checklists?
Absolutely. We’ll follow your department’s checklist and provide a remediation log on request.
4. What source files do you prefer?
InDesign packages, image assets (with captions), brand guidelines and any approved alt-text tables or figure notes.
5. Can you handle complex tables and charts?
Yes— we rebuild or tag tables and add descriptive text so data is understandable via screen reader.
6. Will my PDF ‘read’ in the correct order?
We manually verify and correct the reading order and test with screen-reader simulations.
7. Do you write the alt text?
We can draft alt text and/or implement client-supplied text for accuracy and policy alignment.
8. Can you design print + digital-ready versions?
Yes— press-ready PDFs for print and accessible, interactive PDFs for digital distribution.
9. Do you support bilingual or multilingual reports?
Yes— including Irish/English layouts, language tagging and correct screen-reader language settings.
10. What about colour-blind friendly palettes?
We check contrast and avoid colour-only cues; we’ll adapt palettes to maintain brand integrity and accessibility.
11. Can you help with version control and approvals?
We manage clear file naming and tracked change logs so stakeholders can review with confidence.
12. Do you design other long-form documents?
Yes— brochures, impact reports, research papers, strategy docs and ESG reports.
13. Do you work locally and remotely?
We’re based in Mayo and serve clients across Galway, Dublin and nationwide.
14. Can you integrate data visualisation?
Yes— we create accessible charts/diagrams with supporting descriptions.
15. Can you assist with web posting and download UX?
We’ll advise on file naming, metadata, thumbnails, and page snippets to improve discoverability and user experience.
Keywords we’ve targeted in this post
annual report design Ireland, accessible PDF design Ireland, brochure & report design Mayo, report designers Galway, report designers Dublin, graphic design Mayo County Council, government report design Ireland, accessible document design Ireland, long-form design Ireland
Ready to make your next report beautiful and accessible?
If you’re looking for annual report design or accessible PDF remediation in Mayo, Galway, Dublin (or anywhere in Ireland), we’d love to help.
Book a quick chat: www.designwest.ie
Or call 094 93 82000
Designwest — we obsess over grids, balance and bold ideas… because the design should speak before we do.
