EY Wellington
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EY WELLINGTON

Local culture
at work

What role can culture play in a modern workplace? Diadem’s wayfinding system for EY’s new Wellington office balances the brand’s corporate aesthetic with authentic Māori heritage.

Diadem’s wayfinding for offices in Wellington’s Bowen Campus development aligns with EY’s global standards while also thoughtfully incorporating local cultural elements, particularly through integrating Matauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and connections to the local environment.

Client

EY

Interior Architects

Gensler

Cultural Architects

TOA Architects

Photographer

Mark Scowen Photography

Embracing
local heritage

Having designed the ground plane signage and EY sky sign at Wellington’s Bowen Campus, Diadem was engaged to create and deliver the signage and wayfinding system for EY’s offices.

TOA Architects, reflecting the mana whenua of the location, divided the workspaces into four culturally significant zones reflecting the area’s natural elements and historical commerce: Waitī (freshwater streams), Ngahere (forest reserves), Waitā (sea water) and Ngakina (cultivated foods).

Diadem translated these cultural narratives through a carefully considered application of colours, patterns and bilingual messaging. Maintaining zone colours within each zone aids navigation for staff and visitors moving from space to space.

A new
standard

Diadem integrated the storytelling aspects of each zone through interpretive panels, while still respecting EY’s refined corporate aesthetic suited to a global professional services firm.

Diadem’s solution also creatively reinterpreted EY’s signature ‘beam’ element within the signage, bridging brand requirements with cultural significance.

At a time when EY was developing new global office design standards, Diadem was able to advocate successfully for incorporating local context.

Cultural
storytelling

This project was also notable for its incorporation of Te Reo Māori into the naming of rooms and spaces and weaving cultural narratives into interpretive story panels that enhance staff and visitors’ understanding of the area’s heritage.

By aligning the signage design with TOA Architects’ cultural framework, Diadem created a wayfinding signage system that enhances intuitive navigation and deeply honours and celebrates the connection to Māori culture, embedding a sense of place and cultural significance throughout the environment.

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