indigenous aims to provide transparency in regards to its content, and the services it provides. The general why’s behind any work is presented within the Projects, Resources, Journal, and About pages. We try to answer any specific questions here.

Why do you not specify your service rates

indigenous works across different sectors and scales. Therefore a one-size-fits-all approach does not make sense. A charity may not have the same budget as a commercial client. Some commissions are driven by costs, while others are driven by values.

If you appreciate the content and values of indigenous, we are happy to discuss costs. We have a base rate we can share upon request. And if required we can tailor this to meet your needs.

Why does indigenous not show more of its commercial portfolio

Quite simply, a lot of the work we have done involves non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or is not public facing. As such we respect the privacy agreements we enter into with those clients.

To work around this, indigenous invests time and resources to produce research and case studies which are showcased in Projects and the Journal. This demonstrates a commitment to the services we provide, and reinforces our Costs Creates Value approach.

What does work-play balance mean

Design is the product or service of creativity. Some of the potential benefits of design (and photography) work are collaboration, co-creation, and engaging with the world. But this work is often within the confines of a brief.

Play is not only for kids. It is the safe space for ideas, innovations, and inspirations to develop without restrictions or commercial pressure. The results of which feed into our Projects and the Journal. By committing to a healthy balance of work and play — creativity and productivity can become more interdependent.

Why are your Resources licensed by Creative Commons

All of the Resources indigenous develops are based on common goals — inspiration and knowledge sharing. We are particularly focused on the research and development of applying design thinking to photography. As such we want to make this area of interest accessible to all.

The principles of design thinking are to facilitate creativity, and make it a valuable resource for practical use. Providing open-source tools and creative games is the best way to achieve that.

Why did you create the Artist Residency Canvas

The Artist Residency Canvas is inspired by an accumulation of factors — academia, parenthood, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The motivation behind it is to make creative play as attainable as possible. Parenthood and the pandemic represent two of many potential challenges to creative development and productivity.

After an incubation period, the canvas came from a research study into design innovation. The principles of The Business Model Canvas is a reference point within that. The Business Model Canvas is licensed under Creative Commons. The Artist Residency Canvas credits this accordingly and is licensed under the same conditions.

Why does the Artist Residency Canvas look like The Business Model Canvas

The aesthetic of the Artist Residency Canvas is modelled on The Business Model Canvas for visual continuity. Anyone who understands, or has used The Business Model Canvas will recognise it and intuitively know how it works. Future versions of the canvas may change aesthetically, but for now familiarity makes it more accessible.

If you have any further questions feel free to reach out and drop an email.