About

Our team was hired to redesign the wayfinding system for Queenstown Airport, the fourth busiest airport in New Zealand. The airport aims to provide an efficient and top-notch facility that reflects the best of the region. We worked closely with the airport team to understand their needs and prioritized a customer-centred approach throughout the creative process. We referred to the airport's affordable, adaptable, sustainable, and memorable principles to guide our work.

We created a unique, functional, and recognizable signage system that appeals to multiple audiences, emphasizing the concept of "Making the invisible visible." The system visualizes the invisible lines created when people travel from one place to another, using a flexible, modular, and scalable identity of three intuitive and friendly lines. We also designed a bespoke set of pictograms, which we super-sized to enhance the visitor experience.

The Queenstown Airport brand identity inspired the colour palette, paired with the legible Flama by Feliciano Type Foundry. We also incorporated New Zealand's heritage elements, such as the traditional Maori Koru, throughout the wayfinding system. We carefully selected photographs from local artists to support the community.

The redesign highlights that Queenstown Airport is a human, friendly and warm atmosphere despite growing passenger numbers, which have reached more than 2.14 million annually. We transformed the wayfinding system for the international and domestic terminals, airside and landside doors, bathroom facilities, car parks, Flight Information Display Screens (FIDS), info desk, baggage trolleys, QAC internal offices, and the operations centre.

The result is a highly distinctive and consistent wayfinding system that fosters a positive experience for all visitors.

www.queenstownairport.co.nz

Credits
Photography: Michael Thomas

Awards
Best Design Awards 2019: Finalist

Publications
Chois Gallery, China
GSM Vol 8, New Zealand
Novum, Germany
Package & Design Magazine, China

Words by Orla Nic Carthaigh—Airport Duty Manager & Wayfinding Project Manager
“Collaborating with MAKEBARDO was refreshing in its ease. Many words can be used to describe the dynamic pair that are Bren & Luis – inspirational, passionate, gifted, innovative, humble, beyond helpful….they are; in essence; exceptional designers. We had a vision which they made into the most wonderful reality, truly making the invisible; visible. We are complimented daily by our contemporaries and most importantly by our passengers. What a pleasure it was to work alongside this talented team. I very much look forward to continuing on our creative and adventurous journey together.”