nicola st john

As part of RMIT Communication Design studio program in 2020, Un/Certain positions was designed to teach students about how to be ethical and careful designers, while creating safe learning spaces online that prioritised self-care. In partnership with the #chatsafe team at Orygen Youth Mental Health,… Read More

As part of their commitment to work with First Nations Peoples and communities, Oxfam Australia worked with Ntaria Design and Latoya Fly, a 16 year old Western Arrarnta artist from Ntaria/Hermannsburg to design a special commission for new artwork for their foyer in the head… Read More

Warlukurlangu Artists is an Aboriginal-owned, community-based Art Centre representing over 400 artists in Yuendumu and Nyirripi communities. One of the longest running Aboriginal-owned art centres in Central Australia, the art centre plays a vital role in community life and providing a stronghold for Walpiri culture.… Read More

The First things Next design studio ran in Semester 1 2020 at RMIT, and explored the ethics of graphic design. Working on real world briefs, our studio considered how to practice ethical design and be a socially responsible designer in a professional context. We investigated… Read More

In collaboration with Jacky Winter, Emrhan Tjapanagka Sultan of Sul Nation – Mukulri Art and Consultancy, and directly alongside First Nations community members, we are attempting to increase access, representation and compensation of First Nations artists and designers through the creation of a First Nations… Read More

Old way/New way: Telling Ntaria stories was developed in collaboration with the Hermannsburg Potters, Ntaria School, Dr Nicola St John, and the Tjuwanpa Outstation Resource Centre. Funded by Strong Communities for Children, Australian Government, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, this project established a… Read More

I completed my PhD, titled Ntaria Design: A Western Arrarnta Imagining of Digital Drawing and Communication Design, in the School of Design at Swinburne University under the supervision of Dr Samantha Edwards-Vandenhoek and Professor Karel van der Waarde. The abstract can be found below. If… Read More

‘Desert drawing: from pigment to (Apple) pencil’ was presented at the Design Research Society conference in Limerick 2018. This paper documents the early results of my PhD research project in communication design and design education in remote Australia. For the full paper see the DRS… Read More