Korrine Sky
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Interactive diagnostic

The Cultural Alignment Filter™

A five-point check for brands, campaigns and organisations engaging with culture, scored out of 25.

Rate each dimension from 1 to 5. Twenty-five is the ceiling. Answer as the work actually is, not as the deck describes it.

01

Cultural relevance

Is this connected to the community and context?

  • Is this initiative aligned with your long-term mission, not a seasonal stunt?
  • Does the cultural reference hold real meaning for the community it portrays?

Red flag: Mimicry or trendjacking without understanding.

1 — The link to the culture is asserted, not felt.5 — The community would recognise this as theirs without being told to.
02

Community involvement

Were voices co-creators and compensated?

  • Are creators and communities involved as co-authors, not decorations?
  • Have you shared authorship, credit or compensation?

Red flag: Using influence without inclusion.

1 — Consulted late, credited vaguely, paid little or nothing.5 — Co-authors from the start, paid properly, named publicly.
03

Contextual integrity

Does this honour history and nuance?

  • Does it acknowledge political, cultural or social complexity?
  • Have you considered legacy, lived experience or past harms?

Red flag: Flattening deep histories into gimmicks.

1 — The reference is aesthetic and the history is stripped out.5 — The origin is understood, credited and carried through the work.
04

Power awareness

Does this redistribute visibility and resources?

  • Does your campaign amplify underrepresented voices or platforms?
  • Are you mitigating potential harm or backlash?

Red flag: Reinforcing stereotypes or extractive narratives.

1 — The brand gains, the community lends.5 — Visibility, budget and ownership move outward.
05

Purpose alignment

Does this serve both your mission and the community's long-term value?

  • Does this go beyond performance metrics to drive meaningful change?
  • Are you building systemic trust or seeking attention?

Red flag: Actions contradict internal culture or values.

1 — It exists because the calendar demanded something.5 — It would still be worth doing if nobody measured it.

0 of 5 scored