Ngā Manu Nature Reserve
Helping tamariki understand the kererū’s role in keeping our forests alive
Rebrand
Brand Collateral
Brand Identity
Signage
Interactive display
The Why
Ngā Manu Wildlife Reserve has been conserving native flora and fauna since 1974, but their visitor experience and brand identity were feeling a little tired. They wanted to modernise without losing their history, and find new ways to inspire visitors — especially kids — to care for the bush.
The How
I refreshed Ngā Manu’s brand identity while keeping close to its roots. The piwakawaka (fantail) logo mark stayed at the heart of the brand, but I updated the wordmark with a strong, welcoming typeface with a distinctive ‘g’ that echoes both flowing water and the curve of an eel — a species central to the reserve.
I built a vibrant new colour palette directly from native birds that thrive in the ngahere. Deep tūī blue and kererū teal anchor the system, supported by a flexible range of hues that give Ngā Manu plenty of room to play. I also designed a bespoke icon set to reflect the reserve’s biodiversity and created Canva templates so the team could easily roll the brand out across signage, maps, and brochures.
Alongside this, I co-designed Piki’s Perch with the StudioC team and client. It’s a kererū-focused interactive where tamariki follow playful, circular signage to a lookout perch, once at the top you can feed Piki ‘berries’ to learn how kererū spread seeds through their poo — helping regenerate the forest.
All of the illustrations were beautifully created by Zoe Gillett, drawing directly from the refreshed brand palette. These illustrations brought our design system to life, creating a visually stunning and engaging interactive experience for children and parents looking to learn something new.
Every element ties back to the refreshed identity, creating a tactile, seamless experience that’s rooted in fun and learning.
The Wow
The refreshed identity and Piki’s Perch have become the launchpad for Ngā Manu’s long-term vision. The new look feels authentic and alive, while the interactive perch has quickly become a favourite with visitors.
“Piki's Perch is really well loved and the public seem to be enjoying the interactive side of it a lot! … We are really happy with the feel of the lookout now.”
— Ngā Manu Marketing Manager
