The importance of Indigenous art and culture in Australia cannot be overstated. It is a vital part of the country's identity and is deeply intertwined with the history and traditions of the Indigenous people. Many organisations in Australia, including hospitals and healthcare providers, recognise this and seek to incorporate Indigenous art into their branding and design.

The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service in Queensland is one such organisation. As the Health Service's designer, it was my responsibility to engage a local Indigenous artist to design artwork that would be incorporated into the hospital's branding. After some following the below process, we identified Jedess Hudson, an accomplished Indigenous artist with a strong connection to the Cairns and Hinterland region.

The process of engaging an Indigenous artist to create artwork for the hospital's branding involved several stages:

1. Preparing a brief
   The first step in engaging an Indigenous artist was to prepare a brief outlining the project's scope, budget, and timeline. This brief included a description of the hospital's vision for the artwork and how it would be incorporated into the hospital's branding. It also included information about the hospital's values and its commitment to supporting local Indigenous artists.
2. Finalise licensing requirements
   We consulted with the hospital's legal team to develop artwork licensing guidelines that would ensure the artwork's appropriate use and protect the artist's intellectual property rights. These guidelines outlined the terms and conditions for using the artwork, including how it could be reproduced, displayed, and used for commercial purposes. The guidelines also specified the appropriate attribution for the artist and required any third-party use of the artwork to be approved by the hospital's design team. By developing these guidelines, we were able to ensure that the artwork was used appropriately and respectfully while protecting the artist's rights.
3. Sending out a request for quote
   Once the brief was prepared, we sent out a request for a quote and promoted the quote in the local art, and indigenous community circles . The request for a quote included a copy of the brief licensing guidelines and asked for a quote for the project's cost.
4. Assessing the applicants
   After receiving quotes from the artists, we assessed the applicants based on their experience, their artistic style, and their connection to the Cairns region. We also considered the artist's ability to work collaboratively with the hospital's design team.
5. Working with the chosen applicant
   After assessing the applicants, we selected Jedess Hudson to design the artwork for the hospital's branding. We worked closely with Jedess to refine the artwork's design, ensuring that it met the hospital's vision and values. This involved multiple rounds of feedback and revisions until the final design was approved.
6. Digitising the artwork into vector format
   Once the final design was approved, we digitised the artwork into vector format. This allowed us to scale the artwork to different sizes without losing its quality, ensuring that it could be used in various applications.
7. Implementing it in the current brand of the hospital
   Finally, we implemented the artwork into the hospital's branding, including its website, brochures, and other promotional materials. The artwork helped to create a cohesive brand identity that reflected the hospital's commitment to supporting local Indigenous artists and its values of respect, inclusivity, and cultural awareness.

The engagement and implementation of artwork unique to the health service, and the region was a greatly successful project was quickly adopted by staff, in no time at all, clinics and facilities where requesting signage, uniforms and collateral with the artwork. Through this process, the health service  was able to create a cohesive brand identity that reflected its commitment to supporting local Indigenous artists and promoting cultural awareness.

For more information about Jedess Hudson, visit her website at 
www.jedesshudson.com.au or instagram @jedesshudson