Target partners with Indigenous Design Labs in new art feature

In a major collaboration with one of Australia’s leading retailers, a Far North Queensland design group has launched a new line of uniforms across 30 stores nationwide. See the pictures.

Target Group chief people and capability officer Tristram Gray, Indigenous Design Lab student Samara Francis and Indigenous Design Lab founder Leigh Harris unveil Target's new Deadly Store Network uniforms in Cairns on Tuesday. Photo: Supplied.

In a major collaboration with one of Australia’s leading retailers, a Far North Queensland design group has launched an exclusive artwork to honour Indigenous reconcilliation, to be rolled out across 30 stores, nationwide.

Cairns based graphic design program Indigenous Design Lab have partnered with Target Group Australia to reveal a new line of uniforms which will be rolled out across the country.

Target chief people and capability officer Tristram Gray said he was proud of the groups commitment to showcasing Indigenous culture and design across its Deadly Stores network.

Indigenous Design Lab students Siuai Donigi Bedford, Samara Francis and Leonardo Robinson created designs to submit to the company. Picture: Brendan Radke

“They are stores that are located in areas where the population has a high Indigenous representation, for example in this store 16 per cent of our team (are) Indigenous,” Mr Gray said.
“We want to reflect the communities we operate within, so it’s really important that when anybody comes into our store, they can see themselves reflected both in terms of our products but also in terms of our members that service them, particularly in the communities that have a higher Indigenous representation.”

As well as the new uniform, the design will be used across external and internal communications in the Deadly Store Network and is part of Target Australia’s reconcilliation strategy.

Operating nationally, Target’s Deadly Store Network was designed to boost cultural awareness and strengthen community connection and to drive Indigenous employment and career pathways.
“We do a lot of work of course in building cultural awareness in the broader community whether it’s through products, through designs like this and we work closely with Indigenous businesses from a procurement perspective whether its purchasing products or engaging with services they provide to our business,” Mr Gray said.

Target Group chief people and capability officer Tristram Gray, Indigenous Design Lab student Samara Francis and Indigenous Design Lab founder Leigh Harris unveil Target's new Deadly Store Network uniforms in Cairns on Tuesday. Photo: Supplied.

Founder of Indigenous Design Lab Leigh Harris said it was an important opportunity to create career pathways for young people.

“Opportunities like this are really important for young people, all young people, but particularly Aboriginal Australian young people,” Mr Harris said.

“That’s why Indigenous Design Lab exists, to open doors and build opportunities just as Target is doing.”

Young designer Samara Francis said it was ‘mind-blowing’ to see her team’s design in the real world.

“It doesn’t feel real yet – I think it’s taking me a bit of time to process that that’s our design on people’s clothing on an entrance to a Target store,” she said.
“It’s mind blowing, it’s incredible. Every single part of the opportunity has been great.”

Originally published as Target partners with Indigenous Design Labs in new art feature