Designing an identity for Ka Korokī Ka Maranga | Māori Music Industry Collective (MMIC) meant creating more than a visual brand. It meant developing a living design system that could reflect the strength, evolution, and future of Māori music.

As Aotearoa's only kaupapa Māori organisation dedicated to the music industry, MMIC exists to strengthen the Māori music ecosystem through advocacy, capability building, collaboration, and creating pathways for artists and industry professionals to thrive. The identity needed to embody this ambition while honouring the cultural foundations that make it uniquely Māori.

Our approach was to create a sophisticated, contemporary identity grounded in traditional Māori symbolism. Every graphic element was designed with purpose, drawing from cultural narratives and symbology to create a visual language with authenticity, integrity, and depth. Rather than referencing tradition as decoration, the identity uses it as a framework, embedding whakapapa and meaning throughout the system.

The result is a flexible design language that reflects a kaupapa of continual growth, movement, and evolution. Built to respond to an ever-changing creative landscape, the identity adapts across platforms and audiences while remaining unmistakably connected to its cultural origins.

Refined yet expressive, the system balances contemporary aesthetics with enduring meaning. It elevates the presence of Māori music within the wider creative industry, tells stories through every visual element, and creates a platform that feels equally at home in local communities and on the international stage.

This is an identity designed not just for today, but for the future of Māori music. One that can continue to grow alongside the artists, communities, and kaupapa it represents.