VCD Resources - 2024-2028 - Unit 2 - Outcome 2: Cultural Ownership & Design

CULTURAL OWNERSHIP & DESIGN

How do designers evolve culturally appropriate design practices?

In this area of study, students explore the designer’s ethical and legal responsibilities when drawing on knowledge and designs belonging to Indigenous communities from Australia or abroad. They learn how to adopt culturally appropriate design practices, including protocols for the creation and commercial use of Indigenous knowledge such as those published in the Australian Indigenous Design Charter. In particular, students develop a deep appreciation for the histories, practices and foundational contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Australian design identity, while learning about respectful and appropriate representations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in design.

Students apply understandings of ownership, intellectual property and culturally appropriate practices to the design of their own personal iconography. Both manual and digital methods are explored, together with combinations of design elements and principles to evolve an original graphic icon or suite of symbols that capture elements of their own identity or life story. They consider qualities such as clarity and consistency, and the capacity to convey meaning through visual language. In doing so, students recognise the potential of design to express not only the knowledges, histories and traditions of others, but also their own personal connections to culture, community or place. This project also introduces students to the fundamental skills of icon design that will be of value when designing an interactive interface in Unit 2, Outcome 3.

On completion of this unit the student should be able to apply culturally appropriate design practices and an understanding of the designer’s ethical and legal responsibilities when designing personal iconography.

To achieve this outcome the student will draw on key knowledge and key skills outlined in Area of Study 2.

Key knowledge

· ethical and legal responsibilities impacting the work of the designer, such as issues of ownership and intellectual property

· protocols for the creation and commercial use of Indigenous knowledge in design, including representations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture

· culturally appropriate design practices for the creation of personal iconography

· characteristics and functions of design elements and principles

· methods and processes used to generate and present original design solutions

· terminology used to discuss and evaluate culturally appropriate design practices and solutions.

Key skills

describe the ethical and legal responsibilities of the designer and how issues such as ownership and intellectual property impact design practice

· describe and apply culturally appropriate design practices

· analyse the work and practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers

· select and use a range of appropriate manual and digital methods, media, materials and design elements and principles to develop personal iconography

· use divergent and convergent thinking strategies to generate ideas and resolve design solutions

· use terminology aligned with culturally appropriate design practice.

TASKS

TASK : WHAT ARE ICONS?

Brainstorm Australian icons as a class , and work in pairs to create a chimera of 3-5 Australian icons into a character for our next Olympic Games - s1 folio page
Define: Icons
Discuss: Icons vs Visual Language
Draw: In three 100mm diameter circles:

Reflect on 3 symbols from the brainstorm that you most identify with personally.
For each symbol, write a brief explanation of why you chose it and what it represents about you.

eg.

The little wren was my favourite bird to spot in the bush growing up, they would always make me feel happy.

The golden wattle is the national flower, and the golden wattle turning the hills where I grew up yellow is one of my favourite times of the year.

When I was little I loved going to the Powerhouse Museum and exploring all the inventions in Australia's history - the Victa lawnmower has always stuck with me.

Content

TASK : LEGAL & ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS TASK

What are your legal and ethical obligations as a designer? Wrong answers only
How do legal and ethical obligations impact designers in the real world? Visual Notes - 1 folio page. Heading: Legal & Ethical Obligations of Designers
Online quiz covering basic legal and ethical concepts in design - See link on lesson plan
Homework: Copyright reading. Glue provided reading into the folio. Read & highlight. Write a short (300-word) summary of what you learned from your reading.

TASK: ICON ANALYSIS

Icon Sets Research: Read the brief article on different icon styles. Note: Three key points about the history of icons & three characteristics of effective icon design.
Create a collaborative poster in a pair based on a selected icon set. Find list here.
Choose an icon set to analyse in a collaborative poster with a partner. Include the following: TItle, history & context, full set image, three close-up icons. Short analysis of imagery, elements & principles, Good Design, links to all images.

TASK: INDIGENOUS DESIGN CHARTER READING & ACTIVITY

Culturally appropriate design practices including protocols for the creation and commercial use of Indigenous knowledge.
Australian Indigenous Design Charter and Protocols for Using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts
Read a key section of the Indigenous Design Charter assigned. Glue in to highlight and annotate in your folio.
From your section, create an infographic or sticker summarizing a key point or point from your reading. Write 3-4 sentences providing an explanation. Print & place in folio.

HOMEWORK - Research artists & designers listed , write a shortlist of 3 that you might conduct research on for the next task.

TASK: FIRST NATIONS DESIGNER CASE STUDY

Conduct research into and create a visual poster presentation on an Indigenous Australian designer of your choosing. Find a list of artists linked here.

As a class we will create a database of Indigenous and historically marginalised designers: Select an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander designer and analyse their work and practices in a poster report with annotated images.

Export as PDF. Submit digitally to Compass. Print a copy for the folio. Present findings to peers.

Write 1 brief intro paragraph & three analysis paragraphs about the designer & how they work.

Use CSI to structure your writing. eg.

CLAIM 'Blak Douglas' work has a consistent theme of Aboriginal experiences on colonised lands.

SUPPORT This shows up in work like 'Truism Australia' where he depicts young Aboriginal kids being turned away from Luna Park, a reflection of our segregated history.

IMPACT Douglas seeks to express and remind his audience that we exist on stolen land."

Answer the following questions about your chosen designer:

INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

a. What is the designer's name and cultural background?

b. What mediums or design fields do they work in?

c. What country/countries do they belong to?
d. Where & when were they born?

ANALYSIS PARAGRAPHS - Select from the below questions to help you structure your analysis.

a. How does their cultural heritage influence their design work?

What symbols or motifs do you see in their work, and what meanings do these convey?

b. What themes or stories are prevalent in their designs?

What recurring themes or stories can you identify in the designer's body of work, and how do these reflect Indigenous perspectives or experiences?

How does the designer's work address principles of Good Design, such as sustainability, cultural sensitivity, or social responsibility?

c. How does their work reflect or incorporate aspects of their heritage? Do they incorporate traditional techniques or motifs into contemporary design? How might the designer balance traditional techniques or styles with contemporary design practices?

d. What impact has their work had on the design industry or their community?

Practice

1. Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document:

a. Set the size to A3 (297mm x 420mm)

b. Choose a portrait or landscape orientation based on your design preference

c. Set the colour mode to CMYK

d. Create guides for margins and grid layout

e. Add an art board & title - "Research Notes."

Begin organizing your research findings in this document, using headings and bullet points for clarity.

Apply
Start creating your visual poster presentation:

a. Import or place relevant images of the designer's work into your Illustrator document. Document the sources of these on your research notes art board.

b. Begin arranging text boxes for your analysis and findings

c. Consider the visual hierarchy and layout of your poster
Continue researching and adding information to your notes document, as needed
Look for connections between the designer's cultural background and their design practices.

TASK: COPYRIGHT, LEGAL & MORAL OBLIGATIONS REFLECTION

Complete structured reflective writing answering a series of provided questions.

TASK: PERSONAL IDENTITY MIND MAP & MOOD BOARD

Create a detailed mind map exploring your identity, culture, and symbolism - 1 folio page
Create a digital or manual mood board expressing your identity and aesthetics- 1 folio page

Source: Behance

TASK: ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR SKILLS

Create at least 2 art boards in Adobe Illustrator that demonstrate learning a wide range of new skills. Use this link for video resources.
Print & place in the folio.

TASK: PERSONAL ICON SET: SKETCHES

Reflect on your mind map.
In a 10-minute sprint session, fill your page with quick sketches for potential personal icons - 1 folio page
Circle 4-10 of these to incorporate into some draft icons for yourself. Divide the next page into 4 rectangles. Re-draw 4 of your selected symbols, you may wish to combine multiple symbols to create these symbols. 10 minutes per symbol.
Change up your use of media for these 4 drawings to experiment with different colours, textures, line weights, etc.

TASK: WHY DID ABORIGINAL PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY TO USE THE ABORIGINAL FLAG IN THEIR DESIGNS?

Complete the reading about the controversy, highlighting key information.
Write a reflective piece of writing about how this might have impacted Aboriginal artists & designers. At least 200 words.

TASK: DIGITAL REFINEMENT: 2 Sessions

Create an A3 Illustrator Art Board in RGB. Create a 10mm border.
From your design development, select and refine a set of 3-5 personal icons using Illustrator.
Print resolved designs.
Write a brief explanation of each icon's significance.
DESIGN SET OF PERSONAL ICONS Resource:

TASK: FINAL PRESENTATION

Submit your A3 art board as a PDF to Compass.
WRITE: Write one paragraph explaining the significance of each icon to you personally. Write one paragraph about your choice of visual language. Print & submit in folio.
Present personal icon set to the class, explaining the design process, cultural considerations, and personal significance