The Weekend Herald is New Zealand's leading broadsheet by circulation and readership. We were approached to consult with management and the editorial team to assist them in 'future-proofing' their strong position. Working from the strategic vision for the publication, we followed through by developing the visual strategy that would embody their goals and turn it into a clear, contemporary and engaging design template for the newspaper.

We worked closely with the in-house Art Director Esther Sinke, and editorial leaders Wayne Harman and Tim Murphy to develop and implement the new design.

Getting the typography right is always the backbone of a great news design, we used Christian Schwartz's Publico to make the body type super easy to read and we worked with New Zealand's most prominent type designer Kris Sowersby of Klim Type Foundry, to make this newspaper the first in the country to incorporate contemporary typefaces designed by a local designer.

The design thinking meant that the newspaper was completely restructured, with new sections added and a different tabloid lift-out section. Even the approach to editing and assembling stories was carefully adjusted to make sure the upgraded newspaper could really provide a thoroughly consistent and engaging experience for readers. The new product was carefully and thoroughly researched with its audience. The result is a more exciting, less daunting, more approachable, and certainly better to read weekend newspaper. It maintains a conversational style with its loyal readers and best of all it has been lauded by both the staff and the readership.

The new design was launched on Saturday, 14th of August 2010.