Illustrated Learning Systems

This project saw me working alongside Third Studio on He Haerenga ki te Maunga (The Journey to the Mountain), an educational board game designed to help unpack the ongoing impacts of colonisation in Aotearoa, and what decolonisation could look like in our towns and cities today.

My role was to develop the illustrations for the game, translating big, complex ideas into visual storytelling that feels approachable, meaningful and engaging. The challenge was finding ways to communicate layered social and historical themes through imagery that could support both learning and play — without oversimplifying the kaupapa.

The work was shaped through close collaboration with Third Studio, Rebecca Kiddle, and the wider Imagining Decolonised Cities team, including rangatahi contributors Jershon Elkington and Tuakana Metuarau. This collaborative approach was key, grounding the visuals in lived experience and kaupapa Māori values.

The final illustrations form a cohesive visual language that supports the game’s narrative journey, helping players connect emotionally as well as intellectually with the material. It was a rewarding project that sat at the intersection of illustration, education and social impact — and one that reflects my interest in using design as a tool for conversation, learning and change.

In collaboration with Third Studio and Rebecca Kiddle.

Other credits to Imagining Decolonised Cities Team, Jershon Elkington, Tuakana Metuarau and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga.

2021 Research Honors Link