b'INDIGENOUS DESIGNIve always been the type of designerbest first impression that you can.and love what you do and trust you who prioritizes function over form,If its not so good, then people willto do it, then they can advocate and I feel like that process to me iscome to expect that, and its not afor you and will also help hold the most beautiful part of design.good thing! Being the ambassadorothers accountable. I think, in a way, that speaks toof a brand and ensuring consistency Indigenous design. Things likeis generally good practice, but itEspecially in an organization of this birchbark scrolls and beading are artalso sets a standard for how peoplesize, with only two people to monitor as well as designas an Indigenousexpect to see or receive things.a lot of collateral, it can be a lot. We designer, those have always been myhave a constant reporting cycle after biggest sources of inspiration, and ITheres a lot of self-advocacy thatevents, after the end of the fiscal try to carry that into my work as well. needs to happen, and leadershipyear, or when campaigns are done. and management need to backThere are a lot of things that need As Maddy said, we need to consideryou up. You need design advocatesto be created all the time, so having who were talking to, that the work isoutside of your team who respectthat external advocacy is key. Having clear, and that it serves a purpose.MJ: Yesthe 2025 Soaring branding is a key example of that for me. Neither of us is from the West Coast and we didnt grow up there, but we were visiting, so we did that research to be respectful and not copy, but rather, be influenced by those art styles. We looked at West Coast art styles from the office collection, using their colours and shapes and fonts and collaboratively bringing all those elements together, using them intentionally. Thats the strongestBIIDAABANproject Ive worked on during myINDIGENOUS time at Indspire, and its because I had you to work with!FOUNDATIONSMM: Awww, thanks! And because it was being held in a certain place and we wanted to honour it in a way that felt rightthe trust and communi-cation that we have, co-creating with the rest of the team and being open to critique and dialogue about it,Biidaaban, can be described in and having a reason for what wereAnishinaabemowin as that time when dawn doing, was key. arrives in the East, a time of new beginnings. Part of your work is to be theThis one-year certificate program is for both Indigenous caretakers/custodians of theand non-Indigenous learners interested in developing and Indspire brand. How do youexpanding transferable skills for their academic or career do that? Why is brand integrityjourney. The Indigenous perspective, knowledge, and especially important for anworldview covered in this program will nurture academic Indigenous organization likegrowth and workplace skills, respectful of the relationshipIndspire? and responsibilities of Anishinaabe teachings. MJ: My biggest point is always: if ourFIND THEstuff looks good, then we look good. All too often, design in general really sets the tone for how people seeFind out more at: and approach your brand/company/ SAULTCOLLEGE.CA/ business. I think its all about firstBIIDAABANimpressions; you want to make the 2025indspiration53'