The first step was to identify our responsibility to ensure cultural protocol is endorsed, and Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property is protected. We then engaged with the Indigenous community to establish an understanding of the sensitivities of cultural material, heritage and practices. Following this, we identified an up an coming Indigenous artist to work with. Our aim was to provide the artist with greater exposure and showcase his work on a national, even international level. During the process, Woods provided the artist with the 7 main colours that we were wanting to use.
This allowed the artist to provide a theme for each colour, that could be turned into original artwork that conveys knowledge of the land, waterways, events and beliefs of the Aboriginal people. Once the original artwork was completed, the artwork was the sent to a local textile manufacturer for reproduction on to fabric. During this process, our supplier had to create a repeatable pattern to allow for the production of a 50 meter continuous role of fabric.
The design team has exceeded the brief as the product is now being supplied to schools across Australia as both practical furniture for the learning environment and assisting education children on Aboriginal culture.