Cricut crafts meet country: NAIDOC designs tell new stories

Three Indigenous artists are transforming cultural storytelling, with their NAIDOC Week designs going global via the creative powerhouse platform, Cricut.

Indigenous artists making a splash during NAIDOC Week, which starts on Sunday, from left, Leah Cummins, Caitlin Trindall and Kyralee Shields.

Three Indigenous artists are bringing Aboriginal storytelling into homes and creative spaces worldwide, launching a powerful digital design collection just in time for NAIDOC Week 2025.

When an Aboriginal flag, a message stick and a Bora ring become digital assets for millions of home crafters, something bigger is happening and it is not just in design, but in how culture is shared.

That’s the quiet revolution led by Indigenous artists Kyralee Shields, Leah Cummins and Caitlin Trindall, whose artworks have just gone live on Cricut Design, an app that powers one of the world’s most popular DIY tech platforms.

Their vibrant, culturally rich designs are part of a new collaboration launched in the lead-up to NAIDOC Week, which begins on Sunday.

Gomeroi woman and founder of Mirii Art Caitlin Trindall, right, with one of her art designs which graced every Sportsgirl store window. Picture: Instagram

But this isn’t just about making beautiful things.

Every time someone cuts a shirt stencil, poster or tote bag using one of these designs, money is donated to Indigenous charities chosen by the artists.

The charities include Children’s Ground and the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, which support language revival and community-led change.

“People are using Cricut machines to make things,” said Trindall, a Gomeroi woman and founder of Mirii Art.

“Now, they’re also making cultural conversations happen.”

Trindall, whose pastel-infused work is inspired by Dharawal Country, said the project gives new life to truth-telling.

“For me, this is about legacy,” she said.

Colourful Cricut works by Narlung woman Leah Cummins who is based on Quandamooka Country in Queensland. Images: Supplied

“NAIDOC Week asks us to reflect on our role in passing culture down.

“I think about my son and what I’m leaving for him and this is part of that.”

Dharug artist Kyralee Shields agreed.

Her work, a fusion of stars, circles and symbols for Elders, is now one of the top-performing pieces on the app.

“NAIDOC is more than a celebration,” Shields said.

“It’s about remembering who we are, where we came from, and making sure our children inherit that.”

Leah Cummins, a Narlung woman based on Quandamooka Country, contributed five designs, including Community by the Waterways, now featured in Cricut’s official banner project.

Her work blends traditional iconography with clean modern lines and carries a message of unity.

“We are all sovereign nations with our own identities,” she said.

“But together, we are one community. This platform helps show that.”

Cricut ’s ANZ regional director Nicola Dow-Smith said the business has backed the project because it is both cultural and commercial.

“We want to honour and showcase Indigenous artists in a meaningful way,” she said.

The company, which has 8 million users, has pledged to match all proceeds for June and July, doubling the charitable impact.

Importantly, the artists retain ownership of their work and are paid directly through Cricut’s Contributing Artist Program, which is a rare model in the digital design world.

■ The 2025 NAIDOC Week, which runs from Sunday July 6 to 13 has the theme The Next Generation: Strength, vision and legacy.

Originally published as Cricut crafts meet country: NAIDOC designs tell new stories