City
Auckland
Best of the Best Designers Speak®: Auckland3 - Toitanga
Background
The Best Design Awards are a major feature of the local design calendar and some of last year's winners are touring the country to offer first-hand insights into their projects.
This event is brought to you by Resene
Speaker(s)
Mihi by Te Aroha Grace, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei
TOA
Purple Pin - Toitanga
Taumata o Kupe - Nick Dalton, TOA
TOA worked closely with the client and Matua Rereata Makiha (1 of 5 tohunga that know the ancient korero around celestial navigation) to create the iconic urban cultural community hub. This project successfully encapsulates the knowledge and teachings of Mātauranga Māori through visual art and design through a collaborative process between TOA Architects, the clients and key stakeholders.
Noa Blanket Co
Gold Pin - Graphics
Limitless Range - Whakaawa Te Kani & Josh Te Kani
Intentionally drawing on Māori design, made here in Aotearoa, Noa Blanket Co. gives a deeper meaning to the ceremony of gift giving, sharing treasured designs that become an heirloom, supporting the transmission of intergenerational knowledge through art & textile. They believe sharing their individual story reiterates their connectedness, as the essence of each celebrates their shared core values.
Motion Sickness
Bronze Pin - Toitanga
Our Future is Māori - Sam Stuchbury, PDINZ & Katene Durie- Doherty, PDINZ, Motion Sickness
Whānau Ora represents a culturally-grounded and whānau-centric approach to well-being, emphasising the collective of whānau as the primary determinants of their own aspirations. A 'by Māori, for-Māori' approach means they focus on whānau as a whole, allowing them to determine their own goals, aspirations, and success fortified by the belief that with the support of whānau, one is never alone.
Warren and Mahoney Architects & Aurecon
Gold Pin - Spatial
Te Tihi - Aurecon Auckland - Arron O'Hagan, Whare Timu (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa), WAM; Soltice Morrison, Aurecon
Their project initiation began with hosting workshops alongside members of Aurecon’s He Rautaki Māori rōpū, to ensure the project would connect with people and place. This process evolved into a collaboration with local iwi Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, to discover co-design opportunities within the project and to personify Aurecon and co-create the project’s narrative.
LIKEMINDS
Bronze Pin - Toitanga
Waiata Anthems - Damian Alexander & Noel Blackwell, FDINZ, LIKEMINDS
Building on the success of the 2019 album, LIKEMINDS were asked to reposition Waiata Anthems as a true movement for a bilingual musical landscape in Aotearoa. The path was clear – collaboratively create a Tohu (mark) and identity to match the hope and momentum of the movement. To expertly progress the tohu LIKEMINDS sought the help of their creative partners and friends Karl Johnstone and Joe Pihema from Haumi for their inspiration and insight.
“Saluting these legends of te reo Māori, the Waiata Anthems movement provides greater access to the language and culture for all… acting as a springboard for more Māori music to be heard across our airwaves.”
