Russell Kennedy

Dr. Russell Kennedy is an academic, practitioner in design and filmmaking (drama and documentary). He is the Associate Head of School (international and Partnerships) at Deakin University and the Co-Director of Design Mind, Deakin’s International Design and Innovation platform. His research is positioned within the fields of communication design, national identity and design advocacy with a particular focus on the representation of Indigenous culture in design practice. In 2015 he was awarded a PhD from Swinburne University with his thesis titled, Designing with Indigenous Knowledge: Protocols for Respectful and Authentic Cross-cultural Representation in Communication Design Practice, leading to co authorship of the multi award winning Australian and International Indigenous Design Charters. Russell is a Fellow of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), Deakin Motion Lab (DML) and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA). He was a Regional Ambassador to INDEX: ‘Design to Improve life’ (2007-2013), the Danish Government’s International Award program, and served as President of the International Council of Design (ico-D) from 2009 to 2011, with board membership from 2003 to 2013.