For ACG Parnell, the yearbook is far more than a publication. It is a record of the experiences, achievements, and moments that define each school year.
“It’s a token of what’s happened in the year. Families hold that as a record of their child’s attendance and participation in the school.”
The yearbook serves two important purposes. It provides students and families with a lasting keepsake while also showcasing the vibrant life of the school to prospective families.
As Edmund explains:
“Because we also do the marketing version, it’s a way of marketing to potential families about what happens at the school.”
Every edition is designed to:
- Capture the significant events of the year
- Reflect the students who attended and participated
- Celebrate academic, sporting, cultural, and co-curricular achievements
- Create a meaningful keepsake that students and families will return to for years to come
Project Snapshot
School: ACG Parnell
Location: Parnell, Auckland
Roll: 1,900+ students
Publication: Annual printed school yearbook
Print Run: 3,000 copies
Objectives: To create an annual keepsake that documents the story of the school year, celebrates student achievement, and provides families with a lasting record of their child’s journey while ensuring the production process remains simple and manageable for staff.
For this case study, we spoke with Edmund Coup, Associate Principal at ACG Parnell, who oversees the school’s yearbook production and has partnered with Spacific Creative for more than two decades.
Making Yearbook Production Easier for Schools
Producing a yearbook is no small task, particularly during one of the busiest times of the school year.
Over the years, ACG Parnell has refined its approach. Moving to a month-by-month format that allows content to be gathered progressively throughout the year rather than becoming an overwhelming end-of-year exercise.
“We changed to a month-by-month layout, and it’s worked really well for us.”
For Edmund, ease of production is just as important as the final publication.
“For us, having the yearbook easy to put together is really important, but the final product and outcome are better as well.”
With a small internal team managing the publication, simplicity is essential. The school uses a straightforward folder structure to gather content, while Spacific Creative’s understanding of school timelines helps keep the process manageable.
“They understand that when they’re asking for content, it’s also the busiest time of the year for schools.”
“It’s improved the process, so it’s much less stressful at what is already a very stressful time of the year for schools.”
A Creative Partner Who Understands Schools
Having worked together for many years, the relationship between ACG Parnell and Spacific Creative has evolved into a genuine partnership built on trust and understanding.
“They know our school, and they’re able to get that look and feel accurate every year without me having to describe it.”
For Edmund, one of the greatest strengths of the partnership is the ability to communicate ideas that are difficult to articulate.
“I’m a very logical, detailed person, and I can’t always describe what I want, but they can turn that into a creative output that always comes out the way I was thinking but couldn’t verbalise.”
Spacific Creative’s experience working specifically with schools also makes a significant difference.
“They know the sort of content that’s going to come in, they know the audience, and they know how schools operate.”
That understanding means the team can anticipate needs, provide practical solutions, and deliver a publication that genuinely reflects the school’s identity.
Bringing School Culture to Life
The ACG Parnell yearbook is intentionally visual, placing a strong emphasis on photography and storytelling.
“We try to focus on photos rather than text and it works really well.”
From school productions and sporting events to camps, cultural celebrations, and student achievements, the publication captures the energy and personality of the school community.
Each year, Spacific Creative introduces subtle creative updates that keep the publication fresh while maintaining consistency with ACG Parnell’s established identity.
“Every year they put a little twist on it so it’s a bit different from the year before.”
Edmund particularly values the way the publication showcases student creativity.
“I love the way they highlight the art and the photos to make them pop.”
The result is a publication that feels both familiar and new every year. A keepsake that students and families genuinely want to keep.
A Publication That Becomes Part of the School’s Story
The finished yearbook is warmly received by staff, students, and families alike.
“The students are very happy with it, and staff are always complimentary about the final product.”
Demand for the publication remains strong, with copies consistently distributed and additional copies required.
The yearbook has become an important record of school life, preserving memories and celebrating the people and experiences that make ACG Parnell unique.
More Than a Supplier – A Long-Term Partner
For Edmund, the relationship with Spacific Creative goes well beyond producing a yearbook.
“I really like that they’re people that I can have a conversation with. I’m not just dealing with a company.”
The team’s responsiveness and willingness to help make a real difference.
“They’re very fast to reply to emails.”
“I never get told off when I miss deadlines. I get polite reminders.”
“They always try to find ways to make it easier for schools. It’s always a conversation about how they can help make the job easier for you.”
After more than two decades of collaboration, one thing stands out above all else.
“The working relationship has been superb.”
The Value of a Long-Term Partnership
Would Edmund recommend Spacific Creative to others? Without hesitation, Edmund replies, yes.
“Yes, and I have multiple times because they understand schools and you’ll be working with people who genuinely want to do a good job for you.”
For schools looking for more than a yearbook supplier, ACG Parnell’s experience highlights the value of a creative partner that understands the rhythms of school life, makes complex projects easier to manage, and works alongside staff to create something truly meaningful for their community.
Do you have a yearbook in mind or want to learn more? Complete the form below, and we’ll be in touch soon.
