Indigenous Design Thinking Conversations - Melbourne Knowledge Week
The International Indigenous Design Charter forecasts a design future led by the world’s oldest living cultures. How can we unpack the question of what is appropriate or appropriation, and how we differentiate between these two terms?
Hear from a stellar line-up of Indigenous designers and aligned speakers at this panel event exploring how Indigenous knowledge is shaping design practice. Listen to conversations about how the International Indigenous Design Charter can be applied in a local context to help facilitate the accurate and respectful representation of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in design practice. Learn how the Charter, as a guiding document, can inform authentic and respectful outcomes when representing Indigenous culture in your professional practice and develop your understanding of how to engage with Indigenous knowledge appropriately.
Join us at 5:30pm on Tuesday the 21st of May for an evening of discussion about Indigenous impact and contributions to Australian design, as part of Melbourne Knowledge Week at Fed Square’s Deakin Edge.
Read about our key speakers below, as well as the topics they’ll be hosting for discussion. Each will speak for 10-15 minutes, and half an hour will be set aside at the forum’s conclusion for questions and comments.
Shelley Ware (Yankunytjatjara, Wirangu)
Emcee & Forum Panel Chair
Shelley Ware is a regular speaker about diversity in the workplace, females in sport and Aboriginal issues including cultural representation and reconciliation. She is an experienced teacher, specialising in literacy programs for primary school children, both publicly and privately.
Shelley is well known as part of the ground breaking NITV-SBS football program Marngrook. She is also a sort after Master of Ceremonies and a regular keynote presenter to corporations and events.
Shelley loves to give back to the community through her passion for helping children be the best they can.
Jefa Greenaway (Wailwan, Kamilaroi)
IADV, University of Melbourne, Greenaway Architecture
Advocacy, Architecture and the Indigenous Design Charter.
Presentation Title: International Indigenous Design Charter – The Journey.
Jefa Greenaway, co-author of the Australian and International Indigenous Design Charters is a lecturer at the University of Melbourne, focussing on Indigenous curriculum development. He is also director of Greenaway Architects, a holistic design practice. Jefa is founding chair of the not-for-profit advocacy group Indigenous Architecture + Design Victoria (IADV) and is a regional ambassador (Oceania) of INDIGO (International Indigenous Design Alliance). Jefa’s practice work includes design principles for Aboriginal Housing Victoria and currently the Wilin Centre at the VCA and the New Student Precinct at the University of Melbourne. His project Ngarara Place was exhibited in the Australian pavilion at the 2018 Venice Biennale in Italy. Jefa recently curated Blak Design Matters, an exhibition at the Koorie Heritage Trust, and is also regular design commentator with ABC Radio 774 Melbourne
Marcus Lee (Karajarri)
Marcus Lee Design
Design processes and the International Indigenous Design Charter.
Presentation Title: Reflecting on the Charter.
Marcus Lee Design designed the International Indigenous Design Charter booklet. Marcus Lee, founder and creative director of Marcus Lee Design, draws on his extensive brand design experience coupled with an appreciation and understanding of his cultural heritage, to create contemporary and culturally relevant brand designs. Over the past 30 years, Marcus has touched millions of Australians through his design and marketing communications projects. Born and raised in Darwin NT, Marcus is a descendant of the Karajarri people in WA. Marcus Lee Design is a certified supplier with Supply Nation (Australia’s national directory of verified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses).
Kyle Vander-Kuyp (Yuin) 
Schiavello Ganbu
The Charter and development of the Schiavello Ganbu brand mark.
Presentation Title: Empowerment, Procurement, Pathways.
Kyle is an Olympian and a descendant of the Yuin Clan of south coast NSW and the Woromi Clan of north coast NSW. He aims to be an inspiring and positive role model for Indigenous people across the country; including his own family with whom he looks forward to seeing grow and set their own dreams. Kyle joined the Schiavello Group in January 2017 where he will play a key leadership role in helping Schiavello increase direct Indigenous employment and participation across its workforce. Kyle oversaw the development of the Schiavello Ganbu brand mark which used the Indigenous Design Charter as a culturally respectful creative process method.
Michael Hromek (Budawang/Yuin)
WSP
Indigenous protocols for major public works projects.
Indigenous (Architecture) Design and Knowledge at WSP.
Presentation Title: Starting the conversation with clients.
Michael is the Technical Executive of Indigenous (Architecture) Design and Knowledge at WSP. His role involves the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge and culture in the designs of important infrastructure and built environment projects helping to create strong and culturally respectful relationships with Indigenous communities. Michael is a researcher and Professional Tutor at the University of Technology, Sydney’s Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research. He has a range of specialisations in design, theory and architecture. These include the nature of design and its role towards society, and the relationships between theory and practice in planning, society and the city. Michael is currently completing a PhD at UTS and teaches in Bachelor of Design in Architecture covering architectural design and history and theory subjects. His thesis focuses on the idea of the urban indigenous community in Redfern and how this community’s values have been spatialised in built form.
Nimrod Wies
Eness
Bunjil’s Wings and the Charter going forward.
Presentation Title: Bunjil, case study and future challenges.
ENESS is a multidisciplinary design studio working at the intersection of art and technology. Creative Director and co-founder Nimrod Weis leads a team of artists, developers and industrial designers who deeply explore artistic and technological methods, mixing installation art, light and technology to create meaningful interactive experiences such as Bunjil’s Wings at Bunjilaka, Melbourne Museum. Bunjil Wings was inspired by the notion of continuity and the omni-present nature of creation, the centerpiece of this experience is a large kinetic sculpture. The kinetic form symbolises Bunjil the Creator, a wedged tailed eagle in flight. It is 2.2m in width, mirroring the size and majestic nature of the wedge tail eagle, and is in constant motion. The moving form shows the wings of a bird in flight yet also reflects a universal motion seen throughout nature.
Photography Credits
- 16116_0213 (Ngarara Place, RMIT University Melbourne) photo – Peter Casamento or Ngarara Place 2 (Ngarara Place, RMIT University Melbourne) photo – Peter Casamento
- B9537f50-6316-11e5-b992-0686 … (Koorie Heritage Trust, Federation Square, Melbourne) photo – Peter Bennett
- 586e8d5443515bd7e31db5c5 … (New Student Precinct, University of Melbourne) Image – Lyons led consortia
- 9(1) (Visible Steps – Indigenous Design Alliance) logo and/or
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(International Indigenous Design Charter) cover image/s – ‘Feather Flower’ by Glenda Nicholls (Wadi Wadi/Ngarrundgeri/Yorta Yorta) 1994