Bwiti House
Brand Design / Product Design / Apparel DesignOverview:
Bwiti House is a traditional psychospiritual healing retreat center located in a remote village in the heart of the Gabonese jungle. Led by 10th-generation Bwiti shaman Moughenda Mikala, it offers authentic Bwiti ceremonies and specialized retreat programs focused on deep healing, spiritual discovery, and personal transformation.
I crafted a visual language that honors deep ancestral tradition while building confidence and accessibility for Western seekers.
The ProblemBwiti House is a traditional healing retreat center in the heart of the Gabonese jungle, led by an indigenous 10th-generation shaman. The challenge was to create an official, trustworthy presence that felt warm and welcoming, making the experience more approachable for international guests seeking authentic healing and spiritual discovery.
Design Approach
Creating a Welcoming “Storefront”
For most people, the website serves as the primary doorway and first impression of Bwiti House. The goal was to transform this digital presence into a warm, welcoming “storefront” that lowers the barrier and draws visitors in, helping them overcome the natural intimidation of traveling deep into the African jungle for traditional ceremonial healing and self-discovery.
I created an approachable yet respectful brand identity that honors ancestral Bwiti tradition while making the experience feel more accessible.
Visual elements included:
• A custom-designed African-inspired typeface for the logo
• Familiar jungle textures such as palm leaves, leopard print, and cowrie shells
• A Bwiti-specific ceremonial color palette of black, red, and white, each carrying deep spiritual meaning
This approach made the first impression feel open and inviting while staying rooted in authenticity.
Program Identities
Bwiti House offers multiple specialized retreat programs, each serving different audiences and purposes within the larger organization. The goal was to create a cohesive family of sub-brands that felt like they clearly belonged to Bwiti House while having their own distinct personality.
I developed individual umbrella logos for the four main programs:
• Soul Journey – the flagship healing and spiritual discovery program
• Veteran’s Recover – focused on veterans healing from PTSD
• Addiction Detox – dedicated to addiction recovery and detox
• Provider Training – the training program for future facilitators
In addition, I created a special “Moughenda’s Village” design for t-shirts worn by the local Gabonese staff and villagers who support the retreats.
All sub-identities were designed to maintain strong visual connection to the main Bwiti House brand while feeling appropriate and approachable for their specific audiences.
Digital Assets & Icons
To ensure a consistent and cohesive brand experience across all touchpoints, I created a full set of digital assets and custom icons for the website and social platforms. The icons visually represent Bwiti House’s core offerings as well as the specific experiences and benefits of each program, making the offerings easier to understand and more approachable for visitors.
The Outcome