Meet the Designer: Bridgette Keil of Koukou Creations
The GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL – Kaitiaki tohu is more than just a logo it’s a visual expression of care, connection, and cultural integrity. Behind its design is Bridgette Keil, mana whenua of Hauraki Coromandel (Ngāti Tamaterā), the creative mind and founder of Koukou Creations.
Bridgette’s journey into Māori design began in 2015 with a colouring book she created to support her cousin at the World Indigenous Games. What started as a passion project quickly grew into Koukou Creations a full-time design studio dedicated to celebrating and preserving Māori identity through visual storytelling.
With a background in drafting and project management, Bridgette brings both precision and depth to her work. Every design is grounded in mātauranga Māori, guided by tikanga (traditional values), and infused with wairua (the living soul). Her designs honour her tīpuna (ancestors) and reflect the stories and values of the communities they represent.
When Destination Hauraki Coromandel set out to create a tohu for GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL - Kaitiaki, Bridgette worked closely with the team to develop a symbol that truly reflected Hauraki, its people, its whakapapa and its future. The resulting design, inspired by Ureia and Te Tara o Te Whai, weaves together land, lineage, and legacy.
Bridgette’s mahi is a reminder that design can carry meaning, restore connections, and inspire care for the places we call home.
Learn more about her work at koukou.nz.
