The Saturday morning stumble back from your letterbox may have today been a little more interesting. The Weekend Herald has been given a shake-up courtesy Australian print design specialists De Luxe & Associates. De Luxe did a nice job improving the Sunday News a while back, and the firm has quite a portfolio of top shelf clients on its website.
The good news, for fans of New Zealand designed typefaces, is that Kris Sowersby has contributed two of his fonts to the redesign: Founders Grotesk and Tiempos Headline. There's a nice rundown on the design of Founders on the Klim Type Foundry website. As far as we know, this is the first time a New Zealand-designed typeface has been used for a New Zealand newspaper… let us know if you know otherwise.
Another Weekend Herald font Publico Text, was designed by Christian Schwartz, famous in type circles for his work on the Guardian redesign. Scharwtz, who spoke in New Zealand about the Guardian type design project at Typeshed11 last year, has an interesting back story about Publico's design here.
Feedback please. What are your thoughts on the Weekend Herald's new look?
6 Comments
I like it. Nice and clean, pretty international in style.
It's awesome these guys have selected from a NZ type designer, and the input of specialist newsprint designers has made a big difference. Enough to make one raise an eyebrow toward the Dominion Post makeover implemented a few months ago…
I haven't seen the Dominion for a while, do you know who worked on it? I agree though, it is good that De Luxe went for a New Zealand designed typeface, although Katharine Hall from that firm says that put a number of typefaces to the test, so it wasn't just some sort of misplaced nationalism. She also said that the Herald commissioned Kris to finish off the design of Founders, which was a nice touch.
I understand the Dominion did the job inhouse and it was painfully evident. Check this link for some of the feedback http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/local/3064784/Your-new-Dominion-Post — actually from September last year.
I think one could assume the 'Kris' commenting below the article could be none other. Must be a nice little bit of vindication for him.
I think one could assume the ‘Kris’ commenting below the article could be none other. Must be a nice little bit of vindication for him.
Yes, that was my comment. I must remember that the internet does not forget, I was rather unforgiving. I am not feeling vindicated, though. As Michael says:
they put a num ber of typefaces to the test, so it wasn’t just some sort of mis placed nation al ism. She also said that the Her ald com mis sioned Kris to fin ish off the design of Founders, which was a nice touch.
Unfortunately I'm still yet to see the paper as I've been out of the country, so it's hard for me to pass judgement!
Ouch — guess the Dom redesign wasn't universally enjoyed then. Surprised they didn't take it off the market altogether after that resounding wave of disappointment…