The logo and branding design won the Gold Award in the Graphic Design – Identity & Branding category which celebrates creative and innovative design in the traditional or digital visual representation of brand, ideas and messages.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade engaged Balarinji to design a distinctive and meaningful logo and branding for the Australian Pavilion at the Osaka World Expo 2025. The logo and branding is layered with authentic Aboriginal storytelling and reflects a contemporary and authentic Indigenous Australian identity.
The cultural positioning of the Australian Pavilion logo and branding for the 2025 World Expo is significant. It is part of an important shift in how Australia identifies itself as a society that embraces its rich 60,000+ year-old Aboriginal heritage.
“Balarinji has a special connection with Japan reaching back to the 1990s when we designed beautiful kimonos with flamboyant Aboriginal motifs. In 2005 we also created the Australian Pavilion logo and branding for the Aichi World Expo.
“It was an honour to communicate the beauty and strengths of our modern nation through the lens of our rich 60,000+ year-old Aboriginal heritage,” said Balarinji Indigenous Creative Lead, Ngunnawal man Johnny Bridges.
The joyful ‘Chasing the Sun’ logo and branding brings together Australia’s ancient foundational heritage with a contemporary, shared narrative. The design reflects our authentic Indigenous cultural identity and the nation’s irrepressible optimism and energy.
Through storytelling and a layered use of symbols and colours of Australian light, it represents a new approach for how Australia is represented in global contexts and our nation’s commitment to renewable energy, cultural mobility and innovation.
“This work showcases Balarinji’s branding & design expertise and ability to deliver design excellence that is anchored in authentic cultural knowledge and understanding. The result is layered, dynamic, and beautiful in its simplicity,” said Balarinji Senior Designer Manuela Strano.
