OBH Print: Building marketing capacity without additional staffing costs
Preferred Supplier Article: Written by an Education Australia Preferred Supplier about their own products and services. It is not written or endorsed by Education Australia.
Why more schools are building creative partnerships to grow marketing output without adding new roles.
As schools plan budgets for 2027, many face the same challenge.
Marketing and community engagement expectations continue to grow. Prospectuses need updating. Open Days require fresh collateral. Enrolment campaigns demand digital assets, signage and publications. Internal communications, annual reports, yearbooks, diaries and event materials all compete for attention.
Yet many marketing teams are already operating at capacity, and recruiting additional creative staff isn’t always practical or financially viable.
Increasingly, schools are looking for a different solution: a trusted creative partner who can act as an extension of their existing team.
Access to expertise when you need it
A Graphic Design Partnership plan with OBH Print gives schools direct access to our dedicated team of graphic designers through a predictable monthly arrangement, allowing teams to draw on specialist support as projects arise.
Rather than engaging designers project by project, schools can allocate a set number of design hours each month and use them where they add the most value.
This might include:
- Prospectuses and enrolment collateral
- Annual reports
- Policy & induction manuals and WHS forms
- Student diaries and yearbooks
- Event branding and signage
- Curriculum and parent handbooks
- Advertising and digital campaigns
- Internal staff communications
The approach provides schools with flexibility while maintaining budget certainty, particularly during periods of high workload or major projects. There is no lock in contract, and the monthly hours are entirely set by individual needs.
The value of creative continuity – human expertise still matters
One of the greatest benefits of a long term design partnership is familiarity.
Designers who work consistently with a school gain a detailed understanding of its brand, audience, communication style and strategic objectives.
As schools explore new technologies such as AI, many are taking a measured approach. While these tools can offer efficiencies, schools must also consider evolving expectations around privacy, brand management, data security and regulatory compliance. Working with experienced designers provides schools with confidence that communications remain authentic, consistent and aligned with their values, while allowing marketing teams to make informed decisions about when and where emerging technologies are appropriate.
A partnership in practice
MLC School in Sydney has worked with OBH Print on a Design Partnership basis for approximately six years.
“We’ve worked with OBH Print for around six years on a partnership basis. In that time, they have supported the entire range of design and print projects for MLC School. This includes marketing collateral, for print and digital use; signage; internal guides for curriculum and assessment; and showcase publications such as programs, magazines, yearbook and diary.
Having direct access to dedicated designers who know our brand and style makes the relationship easy, collaborative and highly responsive.
Their quality of work, reliability and genuine commitment to our needs have made them a trusted partner. We truly value the relationship and feel similarly valued as a client.”
Michele Dunn
Head of Marketing and Community Relations
MLC School, Burwood NSW
Planning for 2027
As schools prepare for 2027, creative partnerships offer a practical way to expand capability, maintain brand consistency and support busy marketing teams, all within a predictable budget framework.
With growing expectations around communication, marketing and community engagement, schools need trusted partners who can deliver professional creative outcomes while understanding the unique requirements of the education sector.
For many education organisations, it’s not about replacing staff. It’s about giving existing teams the support they need to do their best work.
We invite you to contact our education specialists to guide you through our Graphic Design Partnership plans and the simplicity of getting started. Email the team on [email protected] or telephone 08 8124 0000
08 8124 0000
[email protected]
obhprint.com.au
