Methodologie

Semiconductor Industry Association

Can an annual report do the same job as a satellite?

There’s nothing like a little competition to motivate self-improvement. But since the launch of Sputnik catapulted math and science education to the top of America’s agenda, the country’s commitment to technological superiority has faded.

The Cold War may be over, but as the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) points out, we are still competing—this time with tech-savvy nations in a global economy. SIA advocates for legislation and policy that support U.S. competitiveness in technology, and a major part of this effort is its annual report. The book serves to unite the industry under a consistent messaging platform, but the primary goal is persuasion. Strong messages with supporting data are packaged in eye-catching design meant to capture a very scarce resource—the attention of legislators and their staff—and then motivate them to take action.

This basic purpose—to capture attention, persuade, and motivate action—is a fundamental goal of design, regardless of audience. Methodologie’s work for SIA, including all of its reports since 2002, has been a hit with both lobbyists and designers for how well it serves that purpose. We can’t claim credit for any legislation, but every year the report garners attention from top design publications, including Graphis, The Black Book AR100, and Applied Arts.