Jason O’Hara

Jason O’Hara

Associate Professor, Ngā Pae Māhutonga Wellington School of Design

Jason’s practice-lead research explores digital storytelling, photography and experience design. The fact that he has been variously described as a designer, artist, scenographer, photographer and documentary maker is a testament to his broad skill-set in creating visual narratives that persuade, educate and entertain. 

His extensive industry experience and an enthusiasm for connecting people with heritage, science and the environment has taken him around the globe including the remote Kermadec region and Antarctica. 

Internationally exhibited and multi-award winning, his willingness for collaboration has seen him work with leading artists, designers, musicians and dancers. 

  • Expertise

    Visual narrative, human-centred experience design, brand and science communication, digital media, video and photography.

  • Research Highlights

    The isle is full of noises. Photographic montage. Pataka Art + Museum. 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

    Where Memories Sleep. Cine-dance installation incorporating multi-channel digital video, fulldome projection, scenographic elements and live dance. SpacePlace Wellington. 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 (Design) 

    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

    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.

     

  • Qualifications

    MDes with Distinction (Massey University)

    Dip. VCD (Wellington Polytechnic)

     

  • Professional Affiliations

    Designers Institute of New Zealand (DINZ)