Do you have a brief template?
What type of projects can LiveCAIA engage with?
We can support you with projects that request creative content produced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander designers and visual artists. This can include graphic design (visual communication), branding, visual art (including painting, mixed media, and digital media), murals and public art, t-shirt and apparel design, and much more.
Can you assist me with preparing my project brief?
Yes. We support clients through the initial briefing and design process to ensure that projects align with culturally led practices. LiveCAIA is guided by the Australian Indigenous Design Charter, which provides a framework for respectful engagement in projects that involve representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. We also follow Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) to ensure our processes align with best practice. Please note that we do not manage or provide community consultation for your projects. Each brief that requests engagement of our First Nations designers and visual artists will be reviewed. The objective of this process is to ensure that our First Nations students are not exposed to projects that may need revision before they align with cultural protocols.
Who are the LiveCAIA designers and visual artists?
Our team of designers and visual artists is dynamic and represents a diverse community of talented emerging creative professionals. Designers and visual artists will engage with projects that align with their study commitments and existing professional projects. Your projects may also be supported by our broader design studio community.
As our students progress through their degree, their availability for commercial projects varies according to their enrolment, academic calendar, skills and knowledge, and external commitments. It’s possible that several students are available to engage with your brief; however, it’s equally possible that our pool of students has no availability. This requires some flexibility from our clients, and we will work with you to ensure you have all the information you need before asking us to engage with your project.
Can I find out more about licensing agreements, Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) in relation to my project?
Yes. LiveCAIA is engaged with a broader Griffith University working group that is focused on ICIP within the university. More information will be available soon.
How are the projects supported?
LiveCAIA is supported by Liveworm, which is a commercial design studio that has been operating within the Queensland College of Art & Design (Griffith University) since 1982. Since then, it has completed thousands of projects for organisations large and small. LiveCAIA emerged from the increase in projects that request engagement with First Nations cultural content, which inspired a new model of working that highlights best practice for cultural collaboration and engagement with First Nations creatives.
LiveCAIA is supported by a full-time Studio Manager, Creative Director, Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art (CAIA) academic staff and Indigenous Engagement Officer (Creative Arts).
Is my brief best suited to a designer or visual artist?
All our designers and visual artists are individuals with unique creative practices. The descriptions below will help clarify the difference between working with a designer or visual artist.
Designers: Responding to a client brief or problem aligns with the skills of a designer. They may have a preferred or unique style but are also often flexible across a range of styles to meet the needs of a project. Designers have an iterative process that often allows for collaboration and negotiation with the client. They can work in a variety of mediums, which are usually guided by the requirements of the outcome.
Visual Artists: The practice of a visual artist often centres around a personal approach, style, process, and interpretation. Visual artists are often commissioned by clients based on their previous works, showcasing their style and approach. Visual artists are led by their own creative process and often provide the client with the final complete outcome (without any option for revision). A visual artist is best suited to projects that require their personal expression and technique.
What is the ‘style’ of contemporary Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander design and art?
When First Nations designers and visual artists engage with their creative practice from a cultural perspective, it will be informed by specific cultural protocols that can be unique to each person, based on their family connections or community. LiveCAIA designers and visual artists contribute to innovative, progressive, and evolving perceptions about what Indigenous Australian design and visual art can be.
We ask that clients do not request a style that reflects what they consider to be ‘Aboriginal art’, because these stereotypes are often inaccurate. It can be inappropriate to request dot paintings, tourist art, specific symbols, or patterns. In some cases, it’s ok to request specific colours if it relates to a style/brand guide, and we are happy to discuss this with you during the briefing process.
How are the project fees allocated to designers/visual artists?
LiveCAIA ensures that all First Nations designers and visual artists are paid appropriately for design and art that includes their cultural intellectual property. A portion of the project fee may also be allocated to administration costs and studio resources to ensure that future projects can be adequately supported. We communicate transparently with designers and artists to ensure that they are aware of the project commitment and remuneration prior to engaging in the project.
Who can help me engage in consultation with community and cultural leaders?
Griffith staff are encouraged to contact the universities Elders and First People Knowledge Holders Advisory Board for leadership in community consultation. Non-Griffith community members are encouraged to visit AIATSIS for resources relating to community consultation best practice.
Projects that may require community consultation include (but are not limited to) specific motifs and patterns, symbols or styles, stories relating to Country, sacred symbols, ceremony, artwork in areas of cultural significance to Traditional Custodians and community representatives.
Can I see samples of student/alumni work or projects that LiveCAIA has completed?
LiveCAIA began in 2025 and we are still in the process of collecting samples of our projects to share with new clients. Many of our alumni have portfolios that we can share with clients in the early stages of the briefing process. Our current students are in the process of building their portfolios. Future clients can visit Liveworm and LiveArt to see examples of work produced as part of the QCAD Live platform.
Contact us to discuss your project ideas.