CPD Online - Indigenous design & cultural collaboration: Designing with Country in 2025

Far from a ‘static’ practice, Indigenous design is in a constant state of adaptation and change. Artists are continuously evolving the styles and mediums with which they choose to tell their stories, continue their traditions and provide, financially, for their families and communities.

At the same time, over recent years, the broader community’s acceptance and appreciation of Indigenous design has also grown. For example, while only 10 years ago commercial products featuring Indigenous artists were virtually non-existent, today they are commonplace.

This session of CPD Live looks at ‘Designing with Country’, a notion that has also recently entered the mainstream, and at the power of ethical, respectful collaborations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous practitioners.

Referencing their own work to illustrate their points, our panel (of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous speakers) explain what ‘Designing with Country’ means to them; identify the various (practical, ethical, cultural and legal) considerations relevant to developing collaborative projects and products with Indigenous people; and highlight the role of initiatives like the ‘Australian Indigenous Design Charter’ and the ‘Indigenous Art Code’ in this context.

They discuss the various ways in which architects and designers of all backgrounds can participate in such work, and in so doing, contribute to a broader and uniquely ‘Australian’ contemporary design language.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this presentation, you should be able to:

• Define the term ‘Designing with Country’
• Outline the importance of communication and collaboration when undertaking projects of this type
• Display an understanding of the significance of Designing with Country to Indigenous peoples
• Identify the practical, ethical, cultural and legal considerations involved when working on projects of this type
   

AACA NSCA Competency Standards: PC3, PC15, PC17, PC27