For Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, The Letter Q collaborated on Te Hā o Te Wao Nui a Tāne – The Breath of Tāne, an interactive discovery space within Te Aka Matua – The Creative Learning Centre. Conceptualised by artist Charlotte Graham, the project was developed in partnership with Nick Eagles from The Letter Q and Rick Pearson of Pearson Associates Architects. The design challenge was to create a hands-on environment where families could explore their role as kaitiaki (guardians) of the ngahere (forest) and Tāne’s tamariki. The activities within the space draw directly from Charlotte’s art practice, encouraging children to engage with nature through making and play.

The Letter Q provided graphic design, interactive design, and production management, overseeing the creation of CNC-cut and laser-engraved panels that invited tactile exploration. Working through one-on-one workshops with Charlotte, we developed materials and finishes that supported both durability and imagination. Partnering with the craftspeople at Finework, we prototyped treatments that allowed children to create wax-paper rubbings, adding their drawings to the walls. Over time, these contributions formed a vibrant korowai (cloak) of Tāne, transforming the space into a living, collaborative artwork. The result is a playful, high-impact learning environment that embodies creativity, conservation, and the spirit of Tāne Mahuta — a lasting example of interpretive and interactive exhibition design in Aotearoa New Zealand.