A collaboration between Emily Carr, a University in Canada. The class was asked to choose any type of being found in an area that was special to us. My chosen being was the Pukeko, a native bird to New Zealand that is part of the Rallidae family of birds. Often found in swampy areas, the Pukeko is a bright navy blue colour with red legs and a beak. Many people consider these birds as pests. First called ‘swamp hens’ by settlers, they are curious creatures and make many loud squawks as they help themselves to farmers' crops. I found them at a local swampy area near me, The Sinclair Wetlands in Berwick Dunedin where regenerated Wetlands recreate the perfect environment for Pukeko. I wanted to design a family-friendly activity for these wetlands in an attempt to help visitors see these birds as part of our natural environment.
I brainstormed ideas and settled on The Great Pūkeko Hunt, a wayfinding system that shows the trails of the wetlands, and where to look for Pūkeko.
Below are my designs for wayfinding signs.
