Bajirru! there you all are, hello! From the Yanyuwa language of Balarinji’s origin community Borroloola NT

Jinangu awara wabarrangu barra kalu-wingka marnijinju wabudala kari-nguthundawabarrangu jinangu Australia li-wulu marnaji barra liyi-Yanyuwawu awara li-Marranbala li-Arrwangala li-Gudanji jinangu awara Burrulula marnaji yamulhu

Our Country we belong to is Borroloola. Yanyuwa, Marra, Gudanji and Garrawa people.We welcome everyone to this land Australia.

Yanyuwa elder Samuel Evans Jamika

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. are respectfully advised this website contains references, artworks and images of people who have passed

Our Services

Designing with Country

Our Designing with Country methodology is a cultural design framework created in co-design with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge holders, storytellers and creative practitioners for major project design teams seeking authentic Country-informed placemaking outcomes.

Balarinji’s Designing with Country framework is an authentic response to Place and Country informed by our best practice experience that delivers exceptional, award-winning cultural design development informed by authentic, foundational narratives from Country.

Our Designing with Country frameworks equip design teams to interpret the knowledge, spirituality, protocols, history, culture and contemporary stories of Australia’s foundational Indigenous narrative.

We support design teams end to end across the project cycle with standalone use or in conjunction with Balarinji’s Connecting with Country frameworks and Public Art and Curation, and Wayfinding/Signage services.

Balarinji’s Designing with Country methodology ensures richer placemaking by deeply embedding and celebrating Australia’s 65,000+ year-old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.

All your Designing with Country questions answered

Watch this webinar recording from Balarinji’s expert team to learn more about how Designing with Country can inform contemporary design.

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Our methodology framework

Culturally appropriate engagement and Co-design

We engage authentically and collaboratively with community-endorsed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives. Our proven workshop methodology facilitates local elders, knowledge holders and creative professionals to articulate and interpret a site’s authentic foundational narrative, protocols and principles. This informs an interpretation strategy in true co-design.

Design integration

Our unique Designing with Country methodology translates authentic, foundational narratives from Country into contemporary, world-class cultural design development for richer placemaking that celebrates Australia’s identity.

Complementary value for clients and communities

We undertake assurance mapping throughout projects to optimise commitment and support between all parties. We build local community capacity by fostering and mentoring local art practice, and by growing partnerships with established and emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander architects and designers.