This member-nominated feature will showcase the diverse talents, stories, and personalities within our community. It's your chance to nominate a designer you would like to know more about. Let's celebrate the unique individuals who make up the heart of the DIA.

Introducing Nicole Monks, solo and collaborative artist, founder of design practice Blackandwhite Creative, public art company Mili Mili and DIA Continuing Custodian Advisor.

Nicole Monks is a multi-disciplinary creative of Yamaji Wajarri, Dutch and English heritage living and working on Worimi and Awabakal Country (Newcastle). Monks’s practice is informed by her cross-cultural identity, using storytelling as a way to connect the past with the present and future. Her works take a conceptual approach that are embedded with narratives and aim to promote conversation and connection.

An award-winning designer and artist, Monks crosses disciplines to work with furniture and objects, textiles, video, installation and performance. Across these varied forms of contemporary art and design, her work reflects Aboriginal philosophies of sustainability, innovation and collaboration. Monks is well known for her success as a solo and collaborative artist and founder of design practice blackandwhite creative as well as public art company mili mili.

DIA: How do you approach and continue conversations around First Nations culture and identity in both your work and daily life?

NM: Daily, It’s part of who I am, so it’s in everything I do, continually. Within my arts practice nicolemonks.com and design blackandwhite creative I like to tell story and to create belongings that will start conversation even after I have left the room. Within my public art company mili mili I am often the connection point between architects and developers, and Community. Engaging with Continuing Custodians to tell their story and finding co-creation opportunities within the built environment.

DIA: How would you describe contemporary design and its influence over our spaces, environment and experiences?

NM: Big question. I think there is currently a lot of rethinking about design, in terms of time, place and making. The physical connections and the invisible intersections, the source of the materials, the significance of story all these layers add depth to our spaces and experiences.

DIA: Your dream project and why?

NM: I would love to see a First Nations Keeping places across Yamaji Country, the majority of Yamaji cultural belongings are held in Interstate Museums and around the world. This would give us spaces right on Country to have the belongings returned. Cultural belongings hold story and knowledge, more than we can simply see with our eyes, Community need to access these belongings as much as the belongings need to be back on Country.

DIA: Since National Reconciliation Week has just passed, what is an aspect of the journey towards reconciliation that you think is sometimes overlooked?

NM: Community engagement is often seen as something Elders and Community should do for free, this has been common practice for decades and needs to change. It is a job and they should get paid for their time and knowledge, just like every other consultant.

DIA: What inspired your decision to join and continue to be involved with the Design Institute of Australia?

NM: I’ve seen the DIA around since I was a student in the 90’s, so I could see the support, pathways, and Community it had created over the decades. I am also very keen for more First Nation voices to be visible for the next generation of future designers.  

Got a story to share? Feel free to nominate yourself or your studio to be profiled.