Marika K Higgins

Works

Native Hawaiian Convention ʻ25

2025

Art direction and graphic design for Hawaiian Council’s Native Hawaiian Convention. The Native Hawaiian Convention is an annual gathering dedicated to advancing the well-being, sovereignty, and collective vision of the Native Hawaiian community. Bringing together leaders, advocates, educators, and families from across the paeʻāina and beyond, the convention serves as a premier forum for dialogue on issues central to Native Hawaiians — from land and language to health, housing, and self-determination.

I produced signage, web assets, social media content, and print collateral that ensured alignment with cultural themes rooted in Hawai‘i and connecting it to site location, Tulalip, Washington.

Design

For this visual direction, the client requested a look and feel that was vibrant, modern, and playful. In recognition of Seattle, the host city of the Convention, we drew inspiration from the city's colors and atmosphere, incorporating bold gradients throughout the identity system.

To maintain a strong connection to Hawaiʻi, I integrated a bold pewa motif throughout the design. This shape is commonly seen across Hawaiian visual traditions, including tattooing, ʻohe kāpala, and textile design. Traditionally, pewa are used in Hawaiian woodworking to mend and strengthen treasured objects, such as wooden bowls. Within the context of the Convention, the pewa serves as a symbolic representation of bridging and reconnecting the Hawaiian diaspora to Hawaiʻi, as well as to Hawaiian Council’s mission, community, and collective future.

The gradient system and its various applications were designed to amplify the energy, vitality, and visual impact of the 2025 Native Hawaiian Convention while reflecting both the spirit of Seattle and the enduring connections that unite our lāhui across distances. Logo was already made.

Application

No Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu mai au.

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