Joris Weijdom is a leading researcher and designer of mixed reality (MR) and extended reality (XR) experiences, with a focus on interdisciplinary creative processes and performativity. He organises international co-located XR workshops and is closely involved in professional interdisciplinary XR projects in the role of technical dramaturg. His lectures at international festivals and conferences dissect XR experiences through concepts such as embodiment and presence.
Since 2006, Weijdom has been researching the use of technology in creative production processes at HKU. He has developed methods to make complex technologies accessible to artists and designers, both for professional and educational purposes. At HKU, he teaches and supervises across a range of BA and MA graduation pathways and leads the Minor Artistic Immersive Experiences.
Performative Prototyping
Weijdom recognises the dual nature of technology, with both positive and negative impacts on individuals, society and the environment. Within this context, artists and designers play a crucial role in critically questioning and creating meaningful technological experiences and applications. His research has led to the development of Performative Prototyping: an embodied creation method for making, adapting and sharing physically experiential prototypes. This method is carried out by interdisciplinary teams within specially configured collaborative mixed reality environments.
Full-fledged meaningful experiences
Performative Prototyping, the associated XR tools developed alongside it, and a technological MR environment enable artists and designers to create collectively experienceable prototypes at an early stage of concept development. In this way, ideas can be explored and further developed before ultimately being presented to a range of stakeholders, with the aim of evolving them into fully realised, meaningful experiences and applications. Within this HKU professorship, Weijdom is therefore developing, among other initiatives, an Artistic eXtended Reality Laboratory (HKU AXRLab) in collaboration with a range of partners both within and outside HKU.
