On the role of 'digital learning designer' for non-indigenous designers collaborating within culturally grounded digital design settings

Abstract

This is a conceptual inquiry into the nature of the role of learning designer from mainstream cultural groups working within culturally-grounded digital design settings. This paper stems from the co-design of an online transition-to-study resource developed specificall for Maori and Pacific students about to begin postgraduate study at the University of Auckland in Aotearoa New Zealand. The resource is the culmination of an extensively planned design project amongst primarily non-indigenous designers in partnership with both indigenous and non-indigenous academics. These reflections from both nonindigenous and indigenous members of the project team are offered for other tertiary-sector designers as reflections and potential sparks - 'theoretical seed sowing' (Bihanic, 2015, p. vi-vii) - about the inherently positional and necessarily culturally-grounded nature of the role of digital learning designer.