Abstract
This paper examines learnings gained from working with Indigenous partners on creative design projects through Studio Zed, a creative agency at the University of Newcastle which provides students with creative studio placements over the summer and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities throughout the year. The studio was established in response to local client demand for student led design work. The University of Newcastle is a regional university where there are limited local opportunities for Design students to gain professional industry placement experience before they graduate, so Studio Zed also fulfils that role. Students can either work on design jobs delivered through Bachelor of Visual Communication Design courses, or each summer they have the opportunity to work on completing fast turnaround industry level design jobs in 4 – 6 weeks, through the Studio Zed Summer Pop Up Studio. During this time, Studio Zed has collaborated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities to deliver design jobs, and both the studio directors, and students have found these projects enriching, learning much from being shown alternative world views and perspectives that can then be fed back into design processes. This paper introduces a general overview of learnings gained from design collaborations on projects with both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. Detailed learnings are further discussed in a case study project called Where’s Our Water, which was a collaboration with Awabakal and Worimi communities, Hunter Water and Newcastle High School to produce an illustrated children’s book focusing on water conservation.
Presenters
Simone O'CallaghanSenior Lecturer, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcaslte, New South Wales, Australia Carl Morgan
Associate Lecturer, School of Creative Industries, College of Human & Social Futures, University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Design Management and Professional Practice
KEYWORDS
Design, Illustration, Indigenous, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, Codesign
