The Australian indigenous design charter: communication design. The development of a guide for respectful professional practice

This article reports on the Australian Indigenous Design Charter: Communication Design (the Charter), exploring the needs and motivations behind the development of this document and the growing demand for designers to understand and apply ethical practices when working on projects involving the representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture. This best practice guide presents a concise, workable set of protocols for communication designers to follow. In this instance, the focus sits squarely on design practitioners to develop respectful processes of communication, consultation and collaboration whenever Australian indigenous culture is referenced in commercial applications. This article reflects on the impetus and objectives of a practice document, framed to accommodate past and present ontologies that speak to all stakeholders. The concept of an open document is espoused as a key feature of the Charter, whereby opinions and comments will be gathered, analysed and used to inform future, periodical iterations of the Charter.