How can a school mural reflect our students, local place and school values?

A meaningful school mural starts with the school community, not a stock image. Gather the places, stories, activities and values that matter to students and staff, then develop a focused visual story. Give students a genuine way to contribute while keeping the final design readable, cohesive and suitable for its location.

Choose the purpose of this particular wall

An entrance mural may introduce the school. A library wall might support storytelling and curiosity. A corridor could connect learning areas through a shared theme. Decide who will see the wall, how long they will spend near it and what you want them to recognise.

A mural does not need to represent every subject, sport, house and value at once. Choose a central idea and a few supporting details. Other stories can belong in different parts of the school.

Collect ideas in a manageable way

• Ask students which local places or natural features they associate with the school.
• Invite drawings, observations or short descriptions rather than only asking for a finished mural design.
• Discuss how school values appear in everyday actions.
• Gather existing identity elements and identify who approves their use.

Explain how contributions will inform the finished artwork. If not every drawing can be included, say so early. Agree the permissions needed for student artwork, names, photographs and any future reproduction. Keep personal details out of the public design unless there is a clear, appropriate reason to include them.

Develop local stories with the right people

Place-based design requires care. Involve the relevant mana whenua representatives or cultural advisers when the work includes local narratives, tikanga, whakapapa, te reo Māori or culturally specific imagery. Confirm wording, attribution and permission through the school’s appropriate relationships. A visual reference found online is not permission to reuse a story or motif.

Translate the ideas into a wall composition

Plan the mural around doors, display boards, furniture and the height from which students see it. Use a clear hierarchy: an overall scene that reads from a distance, with smaller details to discover nearby. Leave breathing room where the school needs to display changing work.

Our Wairau Children’s Ward project is a healthcare project, not a school installation, but it shows a relevant approach to place-based illustration. The artwork draws on the Wairau Lagoon’s plants and birdlife, extends across walls, doors and corners, and was also developed into a matching colouring book. The useful principle is to build a connected visual story from a real local reference.

Plan beyond the opening day

Discuss cleaning, likely contact with bags or furniture, future room changes and whether any part of the design should be replaceable. Select materials for the actual surface and use, rather than assuming every mural system suits every school wall.

Send us wall photographs, measurements and a short description of the school community and ideas gathered so far. Through our commercial murals, graphics and signage, we can help turn those contributions into a considered design, with the consultation and approval responsibilities agreed at the start.