The Ashburton Guardian is an independent, family-run newspaper in Mid-Canterbury that was founded in the district in 1900. It is still the only independent newspaper in Mid Canterbury and the founding family still owns and runs it – a phenomenal achievement in any modern news media landscape.

The winds of change blew many a business in new directions due to COVID-19, and with spring on the horizon, the newspaper embraced the opportunity to take a new direction. In August of 2020, they innovated and launched a brand new edition of their trusted newspaper with a jam-packed 3-day a week edition that was completely community focused.

Our design team was tasked with creating a fresh and invigorating new look for their marketing campaign to represent their new direction as they continued to thrive as the pulse of the Mid Canterbury community.

The Crispin Design Creative team put together a quintessential Mid Canterbury showcase with the icons and people that form the tapestry of the district.

Weaving distinctive landmarks from the Mid Canterbury district into the design, such as Mount Hutt, the Ashburton Town Clock, locals cruising on their Smith & Church e-bike, with a nod to the thriving rugby community and the Canty Plains.

We infused the existing colour palette of the familiar classic white and blue with invigorating hues – crisp teal and cornflower blue, with tones of mint, pear and lime greens of the Mid Canterbury district to match their fresh outlook and energy.

Their new 3 day a week news edition is action-packed with something for everyone and continues to be the trusted local news and community resource for the Ashburton District.