16/10/2026
For Tiara Malota (Ngāpuhi & Samoan), graduating in Spatial Design was really just the start. Since joining Human Dynamo, she’s been building practical skills while reconnecting with her culture and thinking more deeply about what that means for her work as a designer & maker.
Last week, Tiara was invited to share some of that journey at Te Whakaanamata: Māori Architecture & Design Symposium 2026, hosted by Te Paepaeroa at . Invited by Nga Aho Maori Design, the national network of Māori design professionals, Tiara spoke to students, artists and people working across architecture and design about growing toi Māori capability in the industry.
She shared what she’s been learning at Human Dynamo, from digital toolpathing and software programming to timber and stone carving, and what it takes to help turn an artist’s vision into reality. 💫
One of her biggest learnings has been that creating something well requires understanding the meaning behind the work and perfecting the details.
🗨 “An artist might come to us with an idea, but our job is to help push it further. There’s so much more to the work than what’s in the brief.” - Tiara Malota
That thinking extends beyond the workshop. Tiara recently completed full-time te reo Māori immersion study at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, part of her commitment to reconnecting with her Māori roots and bringing more of that knowledge into her practice. Next, she’s keen to explore that connection with her Samoan heritage too.
And one piece of advice from Tiara that sticks with us: 🗨 "Take your design hat off sometimes. Talk to people as people. Listen to what matters to them and understand the whakaaro behind the work before deciding what the solution should be."
