Was.Is.Always: South to North will comprise a series of community led workshops in Norway, Greenland and Denmark bringing together researchers, students, industry, and other organisations involved or interested in Indigenous design. The primary aim of the workshops is to progress discussion towards the realisation of an International Indigenous Design Charter, outlining the appropriate use of Indigenous knowledge in commercial communication design practice.
Having published the Australian Indigenous Design Charter: Communication Design (2016), Deakin University will work with local universities and stakeholders to facilitate discussion around establishing a broader international Indigenous design charter. The workshops will provide an opportunity for Indigenous participants of each participating nation to showcase their designs, learn and share knowledge of culture and design practice, and build long term academic, professional and social networks.
The Australian Indigenous Design Charter: Communication Design is supported by Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria (IADV) and the Design Institute of Australia (DIA). Was.Is. Always, South to North: On route to an International Indigenous Design Charter has been endorsed by ico-D, the International Council of Design.
Sincere thanks goes to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Cultural Diplomacy Grant Program for supporting this initiative
