This article will reflect on working with Indigenous knowledges and engaging with Indigenous communities in professional design practice. The author will outline the process of extensive consultation that was undertaken to develop the International Indigenous Design Charter and the consequent academic and industry response. This analysis will draw on the presentation of industry representatives during Melbourne Knowledge Week, May 2019 at the Indigenous Design Thinking Conversations evening. These presentations provide insight into the impact of the International Indigenous Design Charter, a first-of-its-kind guide for practitioners to follow when representing Indigenous culture in commercial design outcomes. Speakers clearly articulated some of the challenges working with the Charter and discussed the difficulty of ensuring ethical and appropriate engagement throughout the design processes. However, each presenter resolved the document’s guiding principles were essential to change current design practices and enhance engagement methods concluding that ongoing discussion will only improve professional practices.
Indigenous Design Thinking Conversations: Engaging with cultural design protocols
Assoc. Prof. Meghan Kelly (Deakin University)
2019 Conference