Annual Reports / Umbrella Branding / Illustrations / Learning Guides
Branding and design for the national governing body for indoor volleyball
Volleyball England’s Communications Coordinator approached Squark Design in search of a more professional, inspiring look for their annual report, which had previously lacked visual impact. They needed to communicate key data and achievements in a clear, dynamic, and on-brand way across a 32-page document.
Alongside this, they were developing a national downloadable resource for teachers and coaches to help introduce volleyball in schools and clubs across the UK. The goal was to create a simple, engaging teaching tool that would not only support lesson planning but also spark interest and participation among young players, nurturing future talent for the England team.
Both projects needed to be consistent with the Volleyball England brand while being easy to digest and highly visual for a range of audiences.
Following an in-depth discovery session to understand Volleyball England’s current goals and long-term ambitions, we proposed a modern, accessible and structured design approach.
For the annual report, we created a visually rich layout that combined infographics, charts, pull quotes, and data maps—all within a cohesive brand framework. The design helped to tell the story behind the numbers, giving stakeholders a clearer view of the organisation’s progress and future plans. This new look set a standard for the professional presentation of Volleyball England’s key publications going forward.
For the teaching guide, we developed a fully illustrated, easy-to-follow resource. Using clear iconography, colour-coded skill levels, and simple diagrams, the guide made complex techniques accessible to those with little to no prior volleyball knowledge. The content included gameplay overviews, rules, coaching tips, and session plans—each carefully designed for clarity, usability, and visual engagement.
In addition, we created five new logos for sub-programmes within Volleyball England, designed to align with the master brand while being distinct, versatile, and future-proof. Bespoke digital illustrations were produced to support visual learners and maintain consistency throughout.
The response from staff, teachers, and coaches was overwhelmingly positive. The annual report was praised for its clarity and polish, while the teaching guide was quickly adopted in schools and clubs as a valuable tool for delivering fun and effective volleyball sessions.
Our work helped Volleyball England raise the bar for their brand communications, both internally and externally. Since the initial engagement, we’ve gone on to design three consecutive annual reports, and with additional funding secured, more advanced learning resources are in development.
Squark Design continues to support Volleyball England on a project-by-project basis, complementing their in-house team with high-quality creative solutions that help attract, educate and inspire the next generation of volleyball champions.
“Michelle at Squark Design delivered a brilliant job of designing our Annual Report. We wanted it to be dynamic, clear and to pull the reader in – it certainly does that. Michelle was great to work with, she listened to our vision and used her talent to find creative ways to make it even better than we imagined. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Squark Design.”
Michael Hallam,
Marketing and Communications Co-ordinator
"We are dedicated to building long-term relationships with our clients, supporting them through the growth and success of their brand. When you choose Squark Design, you’re not just getting a service provider; you’re gaining a partner committed to your brand’s success."
