Financial Report
of the Diocese of Eichstätt

The design of the report is based on a minimalist and clear approach. Yellow chapter separators in the main color of the diocese give the report a clear structure. The font used is »Baroque Antiqua Compatil Exquisit« in combination with the factual type »DIN«. The focus of the communication concept is the dialogue with the most important players in the transparency campaign. In addition to a clear and straightforward situation report and appendix, the reader is also provided with a narrative report section that refers to the bishop’s letter and sheds light on and makes tangible the church’s current work in the areas of youth, education, pastoral care and Caritas. Part of the communication concept is a consistently photographed imagery that captures the situations of church work in schools, kindergartens, retirement homes, monasteries and churches in an unadulterated and authentic way and creates a direct connection to the country, people and places. The aim is to show many aspects of the church's work, including those of the committees that deal with finances and have to plan the budget. The camera also accompanies the bishop's internal meetings with the diocesan finance council, looking over shoulders and behind the scenes. In addition to the organizational processes, the report also shows spiritual moments, consciously presenting the church's core identity.

»It was important to us that the report shows at the end that it is unmistakably the business report of a Catholic diocese, not that of any other organization,« says Valentin Heisters. »We deliberately wanted the report, in the interest of the sender, to convey to the reader the difference that the local church makes in the diocese. What is the difference between a church school and a state school? What is the difference between a church-run nursing home and one run by a commercial provider? Is there a difference? If so, what is it?« Heisters & Partner discovered one distinguishing aspect during their on-site visits. It was the intense friendliness of the people: »In the youth facilities, schools and monasteries, but also in the nursing homes, we repeatedly met people who were distinguished by their holistic interest in those around them. That was something that made the work distinguishable for us in a very subtle way and also flowed into the imagery and the editorial texts,« says Valentin Heisters.

In addition to these aspects, it was also important to discuss the events and circumstances of the financial scandal with the clients in order to understand and question the transparency work of the bishop and all those responsible from their point of view. This was the only way to create a credible and transparent report in which the design can have an appropriate impact. »In this report, we deliberately wanted to create a minimalist but clearly structured space that can contain the messages of the diocese, but otherwise appears neutral and fades into the background,« says Pascal Möll, who is responsible for the art direction of the project. The report was printed entirely on environmentally friendly material and produced in a climate-neutral manner. In addition to the diocese's report, four other reports were produced for corporations and foundations in the Diocese of Eichstätt and presented to the public in a press conference by the bishop (»Everything is put on the table«) and the finance director.