TEO TABAR




THE SOUNDS OF WHITE BAY


YEAR

2025

CLIENTS

Placemaking NSW
Indigenous Institute for Designing with Country
(UTS Industry Partners)

SCOPE

Wayfinding
Environmental graphics
Placemaking
Illustration

THE PROBLEM

Guided by the Bays West Connecting with Country framework, this university brief asked us to design environmental graphics and wayfinding concepts for Bays West that encourage residents and visitors to care for and contribute to the regeneration of Wangal Country.

Disclaimer: This project was developed in consultation with First Nations advisors and academics.

THE SOLUTION

I designed a series of ground and bollard graphics situated throughout Bays West that encourage children’s desire for play and to interact with their natural surroundings. The graphics are inspired by the patterns of Barangaroo's Living Seawall and the onomatopoeic sounds and movements of the surrounding environment. By fostering their connection with Country, this project aims to encourage children to contribute to natural and marine conservation and pass this knowledge to future generations.

Please turn on your audio while reading to become fully immersed in the sounds of White Bay (link to audio source).




A graphic narrative showcasing the journey map of my wayfinding experience. As children tend to move in chaotic, unpredictable, non-linear ways, I created a non-linear wayfinding experience that evokes their curiosity with bright, bold imagery to encourage them to interact with their surroundings.


Black-and-white diagrams showing scale and type specifications. The environmental graphics are at either ground level or at a lower level, which encourages children to jump, skip and climb.


FIND ME HERE!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

I acknowledge the Dharug and Gundungurra People as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I live, work and play, and pay my respects to Elders past and present. I honour First Nations People as the first artists, designers and storytellers, who have cultivated art, culture and storytelling across this continent since time immemorial. I recognise that sovereignty was never ceded, and this always was, always will be, Aboriginal Land.

© TEO TABAR 2026