Balarinji was founded in 1983 by its Chair and Cultural Director, Yanyuwa man John Moriarty and Managing Director and Creative Executive, Ros Moriarty.
As dual inductees to the Design Institute Hall of Fame, the Australia Graphic Design Association Hall of Fame and 2021 winners of The Australian Design Prize, our founders are recognised for their design excellence and unparalleled contribution to building bridges of best practice participation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, business and the broader community.
Balarinji is a Sydney-based, Aboriginal Australian-owned strategy and design agency founded on authentic engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture, art, stories and identity.
Our ethos is to deepen understanding of Australia’s foundational narrative for major art and design projects nationally and internationally.
Through our projects, we help build community capacity, by employing local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, fostering and mentoring local art practice, and by growing partnerships with established and emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and designers.
We assist our national and international clients to express Australian identity through best practice strategic review and planning, Indigenous engagement and co-design, construction, interiors, public art, digital and design and communications. The company’s work spans graphic design, branding, digital, infrastructure, urban design, precinct planning, public art and curatorial and interiors.
Best known for conceptualising Aboriginal art on Qantas aircraft, we also count in our client portfolio, Transport for NSW, Macquarie Group, WSP, Frasers Property Australia, Microsoft, Nespresso and commemoration work in Europe for Department of Veterans Affairs.
Continuing our founders’ commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Balarinji has an affiliated organisation for good, Moriarty Foundation. With centres in NT, NSW and QLD, the Foundation enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities to unlock the potential of their children, to radically shift intergenerational disadvantage.