While ICN Gateway has a well-earned reputation as a successful supply chain tool in the construction, mining, transport and other heavy industries, it can also benefit small and solo professional services businesses.
Just ask Mitchell Groat, an Indigenous graphic designer who has been shortlisted to provide design services to the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in New South Wales.
Mitchell’s company Marramarra Design digitally creates Indigenous artworks for corporate branding, including company logos, uniforms, and vehicle and building signage. Although the company mostly works with small businesses, it has more recently landed bigger clients, including Awcon Pty Ltd.
“They are a mining and construction agency with sites all across Australia,” Mitchell said. “I was approached because they were a major sponsor for a local Indigenous rugby league team, and they wanted to produce an Indigenous artwork that represented their partnership.”
“So, I originally did that, and I left an impression, because they came back a couple months later and wanted me to do the Indigenous branding for their entire organisation.”
Marramarra also won the tender for the Indigenous branding for the Orange City Council, to be implemented across the entire council services, uniforms, fleet vehicles and branding. “That’s been probably my most exciting project to date, because it sits so closely to home,” Mitchell said.
When ICN NSW’s Central West Regional Manager, David Norris, needed to find someone who could provide Indigenous designs for the REZ, a mutual acquaintance introduced him to Mitchell.
Mitchell, and his portfolio, was so impressive at that first meeting that David did not hesitate to encourage him to register on Gateway and lodge an expression of interest for the REZ project. Marramarra was invited to put in a full tender and Mitchell is currently waiting on the final decision. The project involves creating Indigenous designs to promote the REZ across the life of the project, including uniform, signing, branding, socials and website, as well as a framed print of the artwork.
“You get two kinds of outcomes from a major project like this. And one is obviously hitting your brief and client requirements, and then I tailor that to suit. So if you need a certain colour palette, size or story, that’s what I do,” Mitchell said.
“But secondary, it’s the positive impact that our creative project brings to my client’s stakeholders and their view on that company. As it’s showcasing that they collaborate with a company that takes Indigenous values seriously.”
Unlike some other Indigenous artists who work exclusively on canvas and whose designs need to be digitised before being used as branding, Mitchell works directly with digital designs, taking out the middleman between his work and the client.
“Traditional mediums of art still obviously have their place and are close to my heart as that’s where I started and still practice. I’ve just enjoyed the digital space and find it much less limiting. Especially for creative projects where clients have multiple application requirements. Ultimately offering a more professional service”.
According to David, this unique approach is what distinguishes Marramarra Design from its competitors.
Even if he is not successful, Mitchell believes the process of putting in the tender, and learning about Gateway has been beneficial to his business.
“I’ve learned a lot and David has been a big help and a big supporter of my business as well. I’m really enjoying that partnership.”
Mitchell now checks Gateway regularly, and David intends to put Marramarra forward for another major renewables project planned for the Broken Hill region.
Learn more about Marramarra Design.
