Too often, people perceive West African art as an exotic curiosity, rather than a living piece of culture. The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) set out to reshape the narrative.
![A large outdoor billboard featuring a grid of abstracted MOWAA logos and colourful artworks, mounted on the side of a building with a clear blue sky above.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/665f0ed888a53159b87e1200_MOWAA_Case%20Study1_Credit.jpg)
Heritage reimagined
MOWAA wanted to establish itself as the cultural capital of West Africa, preserving the region’s past heritage and also championing its impact on the present. West African art is always growing and evolving. But it’s also built on long-held traditions and important history. We had to find a balance between these truths, and create a brand and website for MOWAA that could speak to both without compromising either.
![A Benin Bronze statue of a face with a black background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/662ba1c4ace646b44f4d786a_MOWAA_Case%20Study2.jpg)
![A flag pole banner including artwork from a West African artist and the MOWAA logo layered along the bottom in white.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/665eeddb57ee873c8177da2f_MOWAA_Case%20Study3_Credit.jpg)
![Close-up of a hand holding a smartphone displaying a MOWAA art gallery ticket with a QR code on its screen, over a stony ground background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/665eedda04f35114af9f00e8_MOWAA_Case%20Study4_Credit.jpg)
![An outside MOWAA billboard against a sand coloured wall, featuring the expressive logo and various different pieces of artwork from West Africa.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/666031f2faf943d8ad8b276d_MOWAA_Case%20Study5_Credit.jpg)
Echoes of Edo
West African art has an essential influence on global culture, and MOWAA’s new brand commands the respect that it deserves. Drawing design cues from the architecture of Edo-period courtyards in Nigeria, we created a logo grounded in history that could sit comfortably beside world-class creative institutions.
![An interior render of the exhibition space of MOWAA buildings, featuring 3 models and glass cases for sculptures.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/662a832593777f6cd2d7c008_MOWAA-Case%20Study-6b.jpg)
![Three magazine covers, featuring the MOWAA vertical logo, laying on top of an orange background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/666031b8c3d98dcd939e492e_MOWAA_Case%20Study7_Credit.jpg)
![A sand-coloured ticket for a MOWAA Pavilion exhibition, in front of a bronze background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/666031a62d9c742f486cf245_MOWAA_Case%20Study8_Credit.jpg)
![Hands holding a booklet open to a page that reads ‘Our Programmes,’ featuring an image of artwork by Marcellina Akpojotor.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/665eedda99ac6ce3c49e0ae0_MOWAA_Case%20Study10_Credit.jpg)
![A perfect-bound booklet on a sandy background, with a vertical MOWAA logo in white and textural sculpture cover image.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/662a897df10d625f6a2a874f_MOWAA-Case%20Study-9b.jpg)
Connecting to culture
We redesigned MOWAA’s website to make a mark online, announcing it as a centre of excellence in the arts sector. And as MOWAA is constantly growing, we built the functionality and UX with flexibility in mind — giving the museum space to share more knowledge and connect with more people into the future.
![Aerial view of the Rainforest Gallery, a modern, large brick building with sleek metal roofs, nestled in a dense, lush green forest.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/662a832531d8d7ba61d44b3b_MOWAA-Case%20Study-11b.jpg)
![Hands holding a tablet featuring the MOWAA website homepage open on it, against a sand background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/665ef18ad2bde9755bc46413_MOWAA_Case%20Study12_Credit.jpg)
Preserve, expand, celebrate
Equipped with its new website and brand, MOWAA is ready to reclaim the narrative — and share the truth about West African art and culture with the world for years to come.
![A close up of a statue face in profile view, layered onto a Graphite background.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/662a8a5fb4812f5b928a209e_MOWAA-Case%20Study-13b.jpg)
![A person with headphones, holding an iPhone in their hands, with a Spotify playlist; ‘Our Africa’ playing on screen.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/644aaac2fb68406c73a393d2/666031a7bfa88d5fd73872e2_MOWAA_Case%20Study14_Credit.jpg)