My Path to Becoming a Māori Graphic Designer

Kia ora, e te whānau!

I thought it was about time to share a bit more about the day-to-day operations and inspirations behind Toi Kahira. Wow, where do I even begin? This journey has been quite the ride—full of ups and downs (mostly downs, to be honest!). But like many other businesses, I’m just working hard to chase my dreams and tackle the challenges I've set for myself. Hoea te waka, e te whānau—let’s keep moving forward and enjoy the ride!

Being a graphic designer means wearing a ton of different hats. You’re not just designing; you’re also a problem solver, marketing expert, comms guru, customer service pro, creative spirit, photographer, and somehow you’ve got to handle the accounting too. Tax brackets and GST? Aue, don’t even get me started! We’ll save that for another pānui.

As a Māori graphic designer, there’s even more to consider. We think about pūrākau, whakapapa, tohu, Māori toi, whakairo, and our connections to our atua Māori and the Taiao. It’s a lot, but that’s what makes us so special and unique in the market. It’s what helps us stand out from the crowd.

If I can inspire any upcoming creatives looking to carve their own paths, that would be the best thing ever! Whānau mā, here I am— dreaming, breathing, creating every day, and slowly pursuing the dreams and goals I’ve always had for myself.

Kia kaha e te whānau! Pursue your dreams.

Ngā manaakitanga,
Kahira