About

Makacolab™ is an Indigenous-owned design collective dedicated to the Pacific Rim. With projects across Aotearoa, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and the United States, we bridge Indigenous perspectives with contemporary practice to create places that honour history, identity, and community. We deliver work that is as rigorous as it is resonant, ensuring every project respects the land and the people it serves.

Values & Approach

Our work is rooted in place and guided by Indigenous knowledge. We partner with communities and creatives to bring cultural narratives to life, moving beyond aesthetics to translate stories into spatial strategies and lived experiences. By centring Indigenous leadership and upholding cultural protocols, we ensure every project is responsive and accountable. We listen deeply to build the trusted relationships required for shared benefits, leaving a clear pathway for stewardship so stories are carried forward with care.

What We Do

• Collaborative Design & Cultural Insights
  We curate teams with the specific cultural expertise required for each project. Our role is to lead engagement with care, translating community knowledge into actionable design direction that respects local context.

• Placemaking, Landscape & Urban Design
  We shape resilient public realms and landscapes that foster connection and belonging. Our work ranges from high-level strategies and master plans to physical, built interventions that ground a community in its environment.

• Art, Graphics & Fabrication
  We transform narratives into crafted experiences through public art, environmental graphics, wayfinding, and material details. We focus on the tactile elements of design to ensure they hold the story in place for years to come.