An early step: a story people can wear, learn and share
This page documents an early, practical step in GRAF Australia's First Nations engagement. It is not a full reconciliation program. The commissioned artwork, merchandise and storytelling here are a starting point staff can learn, wear and explain with confidence.
GRAF Australia with Mardaa · Perth (Boorloo), Western Australia
- 6GRAF values in the design
- 5Countries connected
- ~5 moProject span
Artist & partner
Kevin Bynder with Mardaa
Wajak Nyungar artist Kevin Bynder created this commissioned story with Mardaa, an Aboriginal-led partner for Indigenous art, design and merchandise. Hover or tap each region on the poster to light that part of the artwork and read his meaning. More at mardaa.com.au.
Kevin Bynder is a local Wajak Nyungar man, born and bred in Perth, focusing his art on this Country. He has worked full time as an artist for about nine years, including AFL jumpers, Perth Mint coins, murals and large design programmes. He is listed among Mardaa's artists. Mardaa grew from merchandise into furniture, polos, workwear and more. Kevin is clear that a Dreamtime story about Garden Island (dingo and crocodile) sits nearby in Country knowledge, but he chose not to put that story into this GRAF piece.
Project span · About five months with Reign Media
Centre of the story
Explore Kevin Bynder's commissioned artwork
Song lines, company values, five connected countries, coastal Country near Coogee (Kooji), fish traps and GRAF's water colours. Select each numbered region to read Kevin's explanation in his own words.
How the engagement began
What GRAF needed
GRAF Australia wanted First Nations engagement that was more than a logo on a polo. The team needed a partner who could carry Country, company history and water work into one design people could wear and explain with confidence.
What we did together
GRAF worked with Mardaa, an Aboriginal-led business for furniture, branded merchandise, uniforms and Indigenous art and design, and commissioned Wajak Nyungar artist Kevin Bynder. Kevin was introduced after a tip from Claverdale Primary School (Maddie and team). Over about five months, with Tabarak at Reign Media, Kevin designed an artwork that maps GRAF's German origins, Australian place, six values, and stormwater and wastewater colours onto Beeliar coastal Country near Coogee (Kooji).
Be proud of what you're wearing. Take a photo of the story and tell people what it's all about.
What the artwork carries
Kevin mapped GRAF's German origins, Australian place, six flowing values, stormwater and wastewater colours, and Beeliar coastal Country into one design. These themes appear in the interactive artwork above.
- 01
Five countries
Five connected circles: GRAF around the world
- 02
Green & blue
Green and blue: water solutions
- 03
Song lines
Yellow interconnected dots: company song lines
- 04
People of GRAF
U-shaped symbols: people of GRAF worldwide
- 05
Six values
Six water holes in running water
- 06
Sand dunes
Sand dunes and the Beeliar people of Coogee
- 07
Ocean & mungas
Indian Ocean and mungas (fish traps)
Polo, merchandise and what comes with the artwork
Staff can wear the story on polos and branded merchandise through Mardaa. Kevin encourages people to be proud of what they wear, take a photo of the story and tell others what it means.
- A single commissioned story staff can learn and share on merchandise
- Partnership with Mardaa as an early, practical First Nations engagement step
- Certificate of authenticity with the finished artwork
- Commissioned First Nations artwork explaining GRAF end to end
- Partnership with Mardaa for design-led merchandise and engagement
- Interactive storytelling so staff and visitors can learn each symbol
- Certificate of authenticity accompanying the artwork
Certificate of authenticity · Certificate of authenticity provided with the artwork