international indigenous design charter
The International Indigenous Design Charter is a living document for the best practice protocols when working with Indigenous knowledge and material in commercial design practice. The International Indigenous Design Charter expands on the Australian Indigenous Design Charter—Communication Design.
The International Indigenous Design Charter was co-authored by Dr Russell Kennedy and Dr Meghan Kelly from Deakin University and developed in collaboration with the Deakin University, Institute of Koorie Education (IKE), Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria (IADV) and the Management and Executive Board of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) in consultation with Australian and international community representatives (for a full list please see appendix 4.2 of the document). The International Indigenous Design Charter takes into consideration the needs of the diverse design communities and cultures globally.
Author bios
Jefa Greenaway (Wailwan, Gamillaraay)
Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria (IADV), Greenaway Architects and the University of Melbourne
Jefa Greenaway is Director of Greenaway Architects, a holistic design practice undertaking architectural, landscape, interior and urban design projects for private, commercial and educational clients. He is also a Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, focusing on Indigenous curriculum development.
Dr Russell Kennedy
Senior Lecturer, Visual Communication Design, Deakin University, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Russell Kennedy is a Senior Lecturer and Course Director of Design at Deakin University. Kennedy’s research is in the area of cultural representation focusing on the relationship of indigenous visual culture to national Identity. Kennedy’s PhD thesis is titled Designing with indigenous knowledge: Policy and protocols for respectful and authentic cross-cultural representation in communication design practice. Kennedy is a Fellow of both the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA) and the Design Institute of Australia (DIA). He was President of the International Council of Communication Design Icograda (2009-2011) and a board member (2003 -2013). Kennedy was a Regional Ambassador to INDEX: 'Design to Improve life', the Danish Government’s International Award program (2007-2013).
Dr Meghan Kelly
Senior Lecturer, Visual Communication Design, Deakin University, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Meghan Kelly is a Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication Design at Deakin University and currently serves as the Associate Head of School for Teaching and Learning in the School of Communication and Creative Arts. Kelly’s research explores issues surrounding identity creation and representation in a cross-cultural context with a focus on indigenous communities. Her passion for a global understanding of design extends into her teaching practice and continues to be explored in research projects and design opportunities. Together with Kennedy, Kelly has written the Australian Indigenous Design Charter: Communication Design and has travelled to Denmark, Greenland and Sweden to explore its transformation into the International Indigenous Design Charter. Kelly is a member of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA).
Dr Brian Martin (Muruwari, Bundjalung,Kamilaroi)
Deakin University, Institute of Koorie Education (IKE)
Brian Martin expertise is in the area of Australian Aboriginal representation and cultural competency building in business. Brian designs, develops and delivers cultural awareness programs, including Reconciliation Action Plans, to various private and public organisations. While Acting Director of the Institute of Koori Education at Deakin University Australia, Brian provided academic, research and administrative leadership to the Institutes staff and students. His role was to ensure that the Institute of Koorie Education fulfilled its mission to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to study without being removed from their communities for substantial periods of time. His publication history has investigated the relationship of materialism in the arts to an Indigenous worldview and Aboriginal knowledge framework and epistemology. As a practising artist for twenty-five years, Brian exhibits both nationally and internationally. His work is in various private and public collections including the National Gallery of Victoria.