Tom Simmons

Tom’s research focuses on the politics and aesthetics of sound and storytelling in relation to communities, ecologies and technologies. This includes norm-critical and intercultural sonic research relating to knowledge systems, narrative ecologies and the development and use of emerging technologies; experimental media and extended senses in sound performance and improvisation; and sound in immersive, interactive and non-linear storytelling.

Tom has a long-standing interest in developing creative methods in collective and reflexive forms of communication research and practice. He is a Principal Investigator (with Professor Johnny Golding) of a research lab that looks at storytelling in relation to real-world AI narratives (with AiDLab and Hong Kong Polytechnic University), including aspects of symbiotic intelligence and the entangled relationships that exist between the geosphere, atmosphere and electronic noosphere. Tom is also a co-investigator for the EPSRC UK Ecological Citizens network that links digital storytelling, design, materials, environmental and citizen science with communities to support positive climate action (with York and Wrexham Universities).

Co-Investigator, Ecological Citizens, EPSRC Network Plus, 2023-7

Principal Investigator, Real-World AI Narratives, AiDLab, 2022-4

Co-Lead, Crafting Futures Central Asia, British Council, 2019-22

Director (RCA), Creative Exchange Hub, AHRC, 2014-7

Co-Lead, Design as Human Interface, AHRC, 2012-3

Co-Applicant, Pattern Completion, Wellcome Trust, 2009-12

Ecological Citizens (2022–26)

EPSRC Digital Economy Network Plus. The Ecological Citizen(s) network is a four-year research and knowledge exchange programme that supports and amplifies ecological citizenship in a sustainable digital society for positive climate action. The network is led by the Royal College of Art in collaboration with Wrexham University and the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York.

Real World AI Narratives (2022–24). AiDLab.

Real World AI Narratives investigates new logics for learning about, engaging with and imagining AI storytelling in the real world, including complex moves of multi-phased portal-hopping, textured topological narrative structures and generative coding platforms to express mood, atmosphere, curiosity and sense, rethinking immersive generative AI from the ground up and for the common good.

Crafting Futures Central Asia (2019-2022).

British Council and UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund. Collaborations with crafts practitioners and researchers to investigate the value of intercultural dialogue, storytelling and collective learning in addressing global and regional threats to craft practices and heritages in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

The Creative Exchange [CX] (2014–17).

AHRC. UK-wide Knowledge Exchange Hub led by the Royal College of Art in collaboration with Lancaster and Newcastle Universities, focusing on new knowledge in digital public spaces, collaborative arts and humanities PhD models, co-created and community-led technology development, and creative forms of knowledge exchange. CX, which supported 21 AHRC funded PhD students, worked with partners including NESTA, the BBC, Microsoft Research and c. 150 researchers and over 100 organisations.

Phillips, R., West, S., Shepley, A., Baurley, S., Simmons, T., Pickles, N., Knox, D., (2022). Defining ecological citizenship; Case-studies, projects & perspectives; analysed through a design-led lens, positioning ‘preferable future(s)’ at Design For Adaptation, Cumulus Detroit 2022, Detroit, 2-4 Nov 2022.

Dare, E., Ramanathan, E., Simmons, T. and Pochodzaj, J. (2022). Crafting Futures: Dismantling and rebuilding histories together at Craft History Workshop organised by Queen’s University, Ontario & Bard Graduate Center in New York City, 20 April 2022.

Dare, E., Ramanathan, E., Simmons, T. and Pochodzaj, J. (2021). Local-Global Knowledge: Who Gets to Define the Future of Craft? at Making Futures, Plymouth College of Art, 16 September 2021.

Conway, S., Dare, E., Gasparin, M., Pochodzaj, J., Quinn, M., Ramanathan, R. and Simmons, T. (2020). Crafting futures: Pilot project reports and proposals for collaborative research and skills development projects in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Dare, E., Ramanathan, E., Simmons, T. and Pochodzaj, J. (2020). Mediating tacit knowledges: a visual and sonic essay at UNCONFERENCE 2020, Reading, 26 June 2020.

Conway, S., Dare, E., Gasparin, M., Oakley, P., Quinn, M., Ramanathan, R. and Simmons, T. (2019). Crafting futures: Scoping visit reports and proposals for pilot projects in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

Dare, E., and Simmons, T. (2019). Crafting Futures in Central Asia countries. at British Council, Crafting Futures, Central Asia and South Caucasus Crafts Networking Forum, Tblisi, Georgia, 7 November 2019.

Simmons, T. (2019) Epistemological Pluralism & Norm-Critical Communication, Postdisciplinary Epistemologies, London, 7 June 2019.

Simmons, T. (2019) Walking Networked Soundscapes, (Un)Sound Barrier, London, 19 June 2019.

Simmons, T., and Wee, C. eds. & authors. (2017) The Creative Exchange, The Creative Exchange, UK. ISBN 978-1-910642-28-3.

Triggs, T., Dalton, B., and Simmons, T. (2017) Knowledge Exchange through the Design PhD in Laurene Vaughan ed. Practice-Based Design Research. Bloomsbury Academic, London, UK. ISBN 9781474267816.

Bayley, S., Hanna, S., and Simmons, T. (2013) ‘Thinking Narratively, Metaphorically and Allegorically through Poetry, Animation and Sound’. Journal of American Studies 47 (4): 1231–1256. doi:10.1017/S0021875813001953.

Tom has wide-ranging experience with developing and leading collaborative research, mainly in creative, cultural and technology fields. He has led the RCA’s knowledge exchange partnership with Snap Inc since 2019. Initially stemming from collaborations with Snap Philanthropy’s Design Academies in Los Angeles, the partnership enables the Snap x RCA Spectacles and Augmented (Un)Realities projects, the RCA Snap Visualisation Lab, as well as the annual Snap London Lens Lab for young people across London to gain experience of working with augmented reality. Tom leads the RCA’s partnership with Outernet Global, centred on annual programmes of spatial, performative and interactive real-world storytelling, connecting experimental digital arts with diverse audiences. He also leads the RCA Digital Direction partnership with Frameless, which supports a programme of collaborative immersive digital art residencies.