Jack Hardiker
- Tutor (Research)
- Digital Direction MA
Jack Hardiker is an interdisciplinary artist, creative director and researcher. He leads the collaborative practice ‘Office of Everyone’, working with both established and emergent creative techniques to tell urgent and unexpected stories.
Jack is a Tutor (Research) on the Digital Direction MA at the Royal College of Art, where he leads an ongoing research collaboration with Snap Inc. (creators of Snapchat). The project brings together a diverse, interdisciplinary group of researchers from across the college to critically explore how Augmented Reality might impact our world.
Jack’s work has received considerable funding, as well as recognition from bodies such as the Media Architecture Biennale and the Lumen Prize. He has spoken nationally and internationally at conferences and events including SXSW in Austin, MIT Reality Hack in Boston and Beyond Conference in London.
Most recently, Jack's research has explored the use of ubiquitous technologies as collaborative tools for overcoming traditional barriers to accessing the arts.
Gallery
![j.hardiker 'Trochilidae [hummingbird]'](https://rca-media2.rca.ac.uk/images/j.hardiker_Trochilidae_hummingbird.2e16d0ba.fill-829x585.jpg)
More information
Research interests
Critical analysis and research are integral to Jack's practice. He is a vocal advocate for the inclusion of a diverse range of voices in the creative process, and has drawn particular inspiration from Donna Haraway’s situated design methodologies. Jack explores technological bias through questions of who is seen and heard by technology, but more importantly, who is not.
Current and recent projects
Jack founded the collaborative arts and technology studio 'Office of Everyone', which seeks to improve participation in the arts and culture through the use of creative technologies. The studio has recently been working with theatre and performance makers, developing work that incorporates augmented reality, projection, kinetic installation, binaural sound and bone conduction.
Prior to this, as a senior digital designer Jack led global projects from inception to delivery for clients including the BBC, Orange and XL Recordings.
Recent Projects
‘Through the Cracks’ 2022 brings meaningful theatrical experiences into peoples homes using augmented reality. Using their phone or tablet cameras, audiences see a virtual chasm appear on the physical floor beneath them. Through this fault line, they watch a story unfold, performed by real humans. The illusion of three dimensionality is created using a new technique that has been specifically developed for this project. The story is viewed from overhead as the performance appears to be happening under the floor of the physical world. This method of presenting stories through Augmented Reality (AR) has the quality of an intimate performance rather than a piece of linear recorded media. Co-created by Jack Hardiker, Office of Everyone and English Touring Theatre.
‘Bussing Out’ 2022 is a kinetic installation incorporating binaural narrative, vibration and multi-screen projection. Shabina Aslam’s script explores the lost history of ‘Bussing’, an educational policy impacting South Asian, West Indian and African children who migrated to Britain in the 60’s or 70’s from former British colonies. Co-created by Shabina Aslam, Jack Hardiker, Office of Everyone and Theatre in the Mill.
‘The 14th Factory’ 2022 is an ongoing series of digital manifestations (XR, Metaverse, NFT, installation) that run alongside a major immersive art show in Hong Kong. Co-created by Jack Hardiker, Office of Everyone, The 14th Factory and Unthinkable.
‘Remote Control’ 2021 is a transformative theatrical platform which revolutionises digital audience engagement. The project explores the unique relationship between physical and remote (digital) live audiences. Remote audiences have digital influence over a theatrical performance happening in a physical space, through CCTV, IOT (internet of things) devices, live voting, and direct online communication with the audience and live actors. The digital audience influence the route/action/outcome remotely. Co-created by Jack Hardiker, Office of Everyone and Big Telly.
Awards
Arts Council: Developing Your Creative Practice grant to research the use of AR and VR in a performance/theatre setting, 2020
Media Architecture Biennale, Finalist, 2021
Lumen Prize, Longlist, 2021