Jason O’Hara
Associate Professor, Ngā Pae Māhutonga Wellington School of Design
Exploring ways to connect us with nature — and each other.
Jason’s practice-led research operates at the intersection of design, art, storytelling, and science, using creative practice to engage audiences with ecological and social issues.
Thematically, his projects explore concepts such as behaviour change, environmentalism, climate change, social norms, remembrance, and self-perception to deepen the relationships between people, place, and time.
Creatively, his work transcends and combines media, employing intermedia and transmedia approaches that draw on his extensive professional background in human-centred design, branding, photography, and moving image.
While lens-based media often sits at the core of his practice, Jason’s projects embrace, contrast, and combine a wide range of creative technologies — whether analogue, digital, or AI-generated. This eclecticism extends to his collaborators, including animators, dancers, musicians, and Antarctic science teams.
A deep passion for mentoring emerging creatives has shaped Jason’s career path, leading to his current role as an Associate Professor at Massey University. In this position, he continues to support the next generation of designers, sharing industry insights while championing experimentation, collaboration, and critical inquiry.
Instagram
YouTube
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Expertise
Transmedia and Intermedia
Branding and Human-Centred Design
Behaviour Change through Design
Visual Narrative: Photography, Video and Moving Image
Hybrid analogue-digital and generative AI manipulated media
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Research Highlights
Aurora Waiata Multi-channel video installation. Tūranga Christchurch 2023
Where Memories Sleep. Cine-dance installation incorporating multi-channel digital video, fulldome projection, scenographic elements and live dance. SpacePlace Wellington. 2019, Påtaka Art + Museum. Porirua 2021, Michigan State University USA 2023.
The isle is full of noises. Photographic montage. Påtaka Art + Museum. Porirua 2019
Invisible Decent. Single channel digital video. Cranbrook Academy of Arts, Detroit Broadway Gallery, Detroit, USA. 2019
Where Memories Sleep: an exploration into human-centred design and visual storytelling to persuade and educate, Master's Thesis. 2019
Antarctica research field trips. 2016 on Antarctica NZ Community Engagement Programme with Warren Maxwell from the School of Commercial Music and 2018 as part of international science team.
- LX. Photograph, inkjet on rag, edition of 60 commissioned by Antarctica New Zealand on display at Scott Base 2017
Calypso [Large-scale, site-specific, single channel video installation]. Pataka Gallery - hosted the Academy Galleries, 2016
Seismic 1&2 [Photograph, Inkjet onto Aluminium Composite Material] . Pataka Gallery - hosted the Academy Galleries, 2016
Surface tensions [A large scale video installation]. Nouméa, New Caledonia: Tjibaou centre, 2015
Make/Use. Zero waste fashion video. 2015. Held in the permanent collection at Te Papa
The Deep [Photographic series of 6], Nouméa, New Caledonia, Tjibaou Centre, 2015
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Insight Creative 'Pause' Interactive/Video, 2014
Full Fathom Five [Photographic collage]. Santiago, Chile: Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (Contemporary Art Museum) 2013
Kermadec - Nine artists explore the South Pacific. Group exhibition. City Gallery, Wellington. 2011 before touring New Zealand and the Pacific Rim for 5 years.
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Qualifications
MDes with Distinction (Massey University)
Dip. VCD (Wellington Polytechnic)
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Professional Affiliations
Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ), Design Assembly
