@AuManufacturing Tackles Australia’s Innovation Crisis with Strategic Report
Services
Branding
Report
Templates
AI Imagery
Infographics
Results
Tripled download rates compared to previous reports.
Targeted impact with downloads from key players like the federal Department of Industry, ensuring the report reached those who can drive policy change.
Innovative design that transformed complex topics into an engaging and memorable narrative, making the report stand out.
Turning Complex Ideas into Playful and Engaging Content
We approached Studio Riz with a strong set of ideas, and they expertly helped us refine and shape them into a coherent, sensible, yet still playful and engaging theme. The topic of our report was complex and detailed, but Studio Riz managed to present it in a way that did it justice, making it more accessible and, frankly, more engaging than we’d anticipated. As one of our community members put it: “Just downloaded the R&D report—anything that has a robot fighting the Gipper on the front page will be a good read.”
While I see each project as an incremental step in growing our reach and respectability, the result we achieved with Studio Riz was exceptional. Their expertise ensured that Towards 3% became a standout piece that truly resonated with our audience.
Peter Roberts
Co-founder & Editor of @AuManufacturing
Unifying Industry Voices into a Powerful Call for Innovation
Recognising the urgent need to address Australia’s innovation challenges, @AuManufacturing launched the Towards 3% online series that brought together key contributors and industry leaders. This initiative sparked vital discussions, shedding light on pressing issues and potential solutions.
To amplify the series' impact and ensure these insights reached a wider audience, including key government officials, @AuManufacturing decided to compile the contributions into a comprehensive Towards 3% report. They understood that for the report to be both influential and visually compelling, they needed a trusted partner. As their long-term creative agency, Studio Riz was the natural choice.
Our mission was clear: to create a prestigious, high-quality publication that not only captured the essence of these critical discussions but also elevated the conversation to the national stage. Drawing on our experience from producing the acclaimed Horizon Report for Knight Frank earlier in the year, we were more than ready to meet the challenge.
Before - The original Towards 3% article as it appeared online (@AuManufacturing, 2024)
After - Layout of the same Towards 3% article in the Report by Studio Riz
How a Strategic Report Can Drive Industry and Government Change?
Creating a report like @AuManufacturing’s is a powerful way to influence decision-makers and shape the future of an industry. When done right, a strategic report can be more than just a document—it becomes a tool for advocacy, sparking conversations that lead to real change.
This is especially crucial for industries like manufacturing, where complex issues need to be communicated clearly and compellingly to both industry leaders and government officials.
The effectiveness of such a report hinges not only on the content but also on how that content is presented. A well-designed report makes complex information palatable and engaging, ensuring that key messages stand out and resonate with the audience. At Studio Riz, we understand that the design and layout are just as important as the words on the page.
To craft this report, we combined strategic insight with creative execution.
The Creative Process Behind Our Strategic Report
Building Success Through Creative Collaboration
At Studio Riz, we believe that the heart of any successful project lies in genuine collaboration and thoughtful preparation.
When I first partnered with Peter Roberts on the @AuManufacturing report, it was an opportunity to forge a new creative relationship. While I had previously worked with his Co-Founder Brent Balinski, this was my first chance to connect with Peter directly. We took the time to understand each other’s strengths, passions, and vision for the project.
Peter spoke with conviction about the report’s significance, highlighting its critical role in addressing Australia’s innovation decline. He shared his deep commitment to making an impact, not just within the industry but also among government officials who could drive real change. This sense of purpose inspired our approach and fueled our collaboration.
Together, we crafted a content structure that balanced clarity and impact, drawing on our shared experience in magazine publishing. We planned the report structure, word counts and the sponsor integration. Peter provided a rough content outline and condensed articles, which we carefully organised for easy access. I established a streamlined workflow with a SharePoint folder with live-linked documents to our design files, enabling Peter to make real-time updates that were seamlessly reflected in the design. This thoughtful preparation, combined with our collaborative spirit, laid the foundation for a report that truly exceeded expectations.
Vintage Fight Posters like this one were inspirational for the report cover. (Ordner, 1946)
Here is our final cover image generated with AI imagery.
Revolutionising Manufacturing Imagery with AI
At Studio Riz, we understand that powerful imagery can transform a publication from informative to unforgettable. This is why we revolutionised the visual approach for the @AuManufacturing report. We wanted each image not only to enhance the content but to make it resonate deeply with the audience. The concept of the Picture Superiority Effect guided our approach—this principle asserts that images are far more memorable than words alone. By leveraging this, we ensured that the visuals would leave a lasting impact.
We began with the front cover, which we believe sets the tone for the entire publication. Drawing inspiration from Australia’s 50-year struggle with innovation, we used advanced AI image-generation tools to create a compelling visual narrative. The cover, inspired by vintage boxing posters, symbolises the ongoing battle between innovation, depicted as a robot, and political challenges, represented by 'the suit'. This striking imagery grabs attention immediately, setting the stage for the impactful content that follows.
Beyond the cover, we continued to push creative boundaries with several other standout images in the following articles:
Business R&D Strategy
Dr John Howard, Executive Director at the Acton Institute for Policy Research Innovation and Visiting Professor at UTS Institute for Public Policy and Governance, discussed the Commonwealth business R&D strategy.
Inspired by the concept of ‘laying out the bones,’ we imagined what a robot’s skeletal structure might look like in an X-ray. This side-profile image effectively visualises the dissection and analysis of complex strategies.
Opportunities Driving Innovation - Space
Xavier Orr, CEO and Founder of Advanced Navigation, talked about how Australia has belatedly entered the space race and the race to the Moon and Mars.
We crafted a breathtaking CGI-style scene of a rocket poised on a moon of Mars, with the planet looming in the background. This sci-fi imagery perfectly captures the forward-looking, boundary-pushing essence of space innovation.
Collage style that inspired this layout. (Ferrone & Rose, 2001)
Industry Leaders Speak Out
This was a series of articles by industry leaders, including Mahesh Venkataraman, CTO at 1414 Degrees; Serena Ross, CEO of Circuitwise Electronics; Michael Edwards, Director of Boeing Research and Technology for Asia Pacific; and Geoff Bell, CEO and Co-founder of MicroBioGen.
We envisioned powerful visuals of people in manufacturing speaking out through megaphones. Drawing inspiration from the bold, collage-like style of Angela Anaconda, we created a cohesive set of AI-generated images, blending black-and-white characters with vibrant, colourful elements. This visual consistency highlighted the collective voice of industry leaders. Additionally, we crafted specific images like a man atop a stack of books for Serena Ross's article on incremental progress and a figure holding a plane to connect with the aviation-focused insights of Michael Edwards and Geoff Bell.
What is our government doing?
Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry, in his article, talked about how the federal government has acted to redesign the defence innovation system, better linking innovation to ultimate procurement
Instead of opting for costly editorial imagery, we envisioned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in his Canberra office, signing off on actions to initiate change. Using AI, we generated a painting of Albanese at his desk, capturing the essence of leadership and decision-making in a uniquely evocative way.
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These images not only illustrated the content but also made it memorable and engaging, reinforcing the report’s messages. As you consider your own projects, ask yourself—how much more impactful could your content be with unique, unforgettable imagery?
Crafting a Visual Narrative with Infographics and Data
One of the most creative challenges was transforming complex data into visually compelling stories.
A standout example is the article "Why Business Investment in R&D Nosedived." We enhanced the headline with our creative wording suggestion and paired it with an image of a scuba diver swimming to the ocean floor, symbolising the decline. We pushed Peter to provide key industry statistics to paint the picture, which we visually represented as bubbles, making the data both engaging and easy to digest.
Another innovative layout was for the article on the "Labyrinthine Australian Innovation Ecosystem." Initially envisioned as a word cloud, we transformed this into a maze with government bodies scattered throughout, reflecting the chaotic yet structured nature of the sector. The Scrabble-style headline added to the visual metaphor, making the piece both thought-provoking and memorable.
Amplifying Credibility Through Social Proof
One of the smartest moves @AuManufacturing made in this report was the inclusion of insights from key industry leaders.
This not only enriched the report with a wealth of expertise but also significantly boosted its credibility. The diversity of voices lent additional weight to the arguments, making the report a compelling call to action for the entire industry.
Collaborating with influencers, such as these industry leaders, is a powerful yet often underutilised strategy for driving traffic and engagement. Research shows that online writers who use "influencer outreach are the most likely to report success" (Crestodina, 2023). By leveraging the authority and networks of these contributors, @AuManufacturing strategically positioned the report for broader reach and greater impact.
Recognising the importance of this social proof, we prioritised visually highlighting these contributors. We ensured that every author was represented with a professional headshot, often using AI to upscale quality, recolouring black-and-white portraits, and deep etching to place them against muted brand colours. This approach not only gave each author individual credibility but also unified them under the @AuManufacturing brand, reinforcing the collective strength of the report.
Creating Engaging Layouts that Blend Style and Functionality
At Studio Riz, we believe that effective design is both beautiful and functional.
Our approach to layout was designed to keep the reader engaged while providing visual variety throughout the report. We balanced style with practicality, crafting layouts that @AuManufacturing that were adaptable for future reports.
The Impact and Success
The @AuManufacturing report, Towards 3%, quickly made its mark, with over 250 downloads in the first week, with no paid promotions and numbers are continuing to grow steadily. What truly stands out is the quality of these downloads, with many coming from prominent companies, government departments, and agencies, including the federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
This targeted reach suggests we are hitting our mark, as Peter intended, by driving awareness and prompting serious consideration of Australia’s innovation challenges. The report has sparked meaningful conversations within the industry and among government officials, showing that it is being read by the right people—those who can influence policy and drive change.
The initial results highlight a successful collaboration, not just in terms of reach, but in solidifying @AuManufacturing's position as a key voice in the national conversation on innovation.
Real-Time Validation of Our Strategic Success
When we exhibited at an event in Canberra, it was incredibly rewarding to have attendees introduce themselves and mention they had downloaded and enjoyed Towards 3%. It was clear that the report was resonating with the audience we hoped to reach.
We've worked with Studio Riz repeatedly, and when it comes to major campaigns or reports, we always return. The imagination and care they bring to each project are unmatched—it’s truly night and day compared to other agencies we’ve tried.
Brent Balinski
Co-founder & Editor of @AuManufacturing
Discover More
Dive deeper into Australia’s innovation landscape and explore the insights from industry leaders.
References:
@AuManufacturing. (2024, May). Towards 3% R&D - the lesson of the SBIR model of innovation by Jefferson Harcourt - Australian Manufacturing Forum. Australian Manufacturing Forum. https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/towards-3-rd-the-lesson-of-the-sbir-model-of-innovation-by-jefferson-harcourt
Ordner, P. (1946). Fight Posters – Cerdan vs. Williams [Poster Illustration]. https://urbaneinteriordesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/0-587-04629-5.jpg
Ferrone, J., & Rose, S. (Eds.). (2001). It is I... Angela Anaconda [Book Cover]. ABC BOOKS.
Crestodina, A. (2023, September 27). 2023 Blogging Statistics: Blogger Data Shows Trends and Insights Into Blogging. Orbit Media Studios. https://www.orbitmedia.com/blog/blogging-statistics/
