Chris Hay
Creative Director of Locales
Chris Hay is the Creative Director of Locales, a place-based experience design agency based in Wellington. His role involves working with clients across multiple sectors to conceptualise and plan visitor experiences that intersect culture, history, science and travel. He leads a multi-disciplinary design team to bring these concepts to life.
Some significant recent projects include Ngå Ara Tipuna (Central Hawkes Bay), Te Ara Wai Journeys (Waipā), Tupapa Heritage Trail (Gisborne), Rangihoua Heritage Park (Northland), Waihi Gold Discovery Centre (Waihi) and Ngā Tapuwae New Zealand First World War Trails (Europe and Turkey).
Locales have won numerous awards for their work in New Zealand, Australia and internationally in the field of experience design. These include Webby Awards, Australian Interactive Media Awards, Local Government New Zealand Excellence Awards and Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Awards. Chris is a judge in the Toitanga (Måori co-design) category of the Best Awards.
Prior to founding Locales, Chris was the Global Digital Experience Manager for Tourism Australia and led the Tourism New Zealand digital account to create newzealand.com