ABOUT
PHOTOGRAPHER . RESEARCHER . LECTURER
TAMAKI MAKAURAU / AUCKLAND . NEW ZEALAND
I am a photographer, researcher, and lecturer in Media Design based in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. My practice explores photography as an evolving, investigative process, integrating fictionalism, archival research, and embodied methods to challenge dominant visual narratives.
Working at the intersection of speculation and constraint, I employ a cyclical, research-driven methodology shaped by OUxPO-inspired frameworks and structured experimentation.
I reinterpret vernacular photography and archival materials as sites of speculation, questioning authorship and reimagining historical narratives.
Collaboration and collective authorship are central to my work, fostering non-hierarchical creation through dialogue and ethical engagement.
As a Tauiwi immigrant artist, I engage with the evolving history of Aotearoa/New Zealand, challenging fixed notions of authorship, truth, and agency through speculative visual storytelling.
Jocelyn
Janon
My work begins with attention.
To people, to the natural world, and to the small gestures.
RESEARCH STREAMS
Speculative methods &
philosophy of lies.
Fiction and fabrication - constructing meaning beyond realism.
Collective authorship &
action research
Image-making rooted in interdependence ethical co-creation.
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Media Design School. Bachelor of Media Design
Lecturer · (Level 7)
Integrating Graphic Design, Interactive Design, Motion Design, and Photography across the programme.
My pedagogy is relational and andragogical: working alongside students to develop clarity of intention, confidence in process, and a reflective understanding of their creative decisions.
TEACHING & PEDAGOGY
Portfolio supervision
Individual portfolio oversight and preparation of student work for awards submissions, such as the Designer Institute of New Zealand Best Awards.
Research & innovation
Research fellow.
Ongoing integration of new technologies and methods. Industry engagement through marketing, photography, and open-day outreach.
TEACHING IN PRACTICE
Major Portfolio
The Major Portfolio course supports MDS/BMD students in developing a cohesive, industry‑ready design portfolio that reflects both their creative identity and technical capability.
I guide students through an iterative process of selection, refinement, and critical reflection, helping them articulate the strengths of their practice with clarity and confidence.
As part of this course, I have initiated, designed and lead industry portfolio reviews that bring practitioners into the classroom, creating an authentic feedback loop that strengthens students’ visual communication, professional readiness, and presentation skills.
Interdisciplinary Group Project
The Interdisciplinary Group Project invites students from diverse design specialisations to collaborate on a shared brief, encouraging them to navigate difference, negotiate roles, and build a collective creative language.
I support teams to develop strong communication practices, experiment with methods of co‑design, and engage critically with the social and cultural contexts of their work.
The project emphasises process, dialogue, and responsiveness, enabling students to experience how interdisciplinary collaboration can expand both their thinking and their creative possibilities.
STUDENTS AWARDS MENTORING
RECOGNITION
SELECTED AWARDS
New Zealand photographer of the year.
2022| Runner-up portrait.
2011| Runner-up society and culture.
2012| Runner-up society and culture.
Highly commended.
London International Creative Competition.
2021| Official selection for ‘Tinaku’.
PX3 Prix de la photographie in Paris.
2022| Winner (bronze) for ‘Tinaku’.
2021| Honorable mention for ‘Monuments’.
Head On Photo Awards - Australia.
2022| Semi-finalist in the 2022 Head On Portrait Awards.
Exhibited at the Head On Photo Festival, Sydney, Australia
Monovisions Black & White photography.
2022| HM for my portraits of Elin-Heni.
2021| HM for ‘Patriarchy’.
2020| HM for ‘Monuments’.
Tokyo International Foto Awards.
2022| HM Fine Art - Still Life for ‘Tinaku’.
2020| HM Editorial-Photo Essay for ‘Rear window’.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2023| Auckland festival of photography - resistance [ātete].
Tinaku
Outdoor exhibition.
Freyberg Square, Freyberg Place,
Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland, New Zealand.
2023| the point of incidence.
Collaborative work.
With Amber Liberté.
and Terrease McComb, Liv Hobman.
.theend gallery, Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland, New Zealand.
2022| Head On Award Festival.
Sydney, Australia.
2021| God-House.
Visual collaboration with artist Jahra Wasasala.
Artweek 2021. Light on Te Komititanga.
Te Komititanga, Tamaki Makaurau/Auckland, New Zealand.
2020| Monuments.
Tempo dance festival.
Auckland, New Zealand.
2016| Alter Ego.
New Zealand House, High Commission of New Zealand.
London, UK.
2015| Alter Ego, I is another.
Digital darkroom. Auckland, New Zealand.
RESEARCH FIELDS
speculative methods
OUxPO
practice-based research
photography
collective authorship
action research
scientific fictionalism
interdependence
EXTENDED PRACTICES
BOTANY
This article investigates the early development of dwarf remontant polyantha roses, tracing their emergence through archival catalogues, breeder correspondence, and comparative morphological analysis.
Janon, J. (2006). Edward Lippiatt. Bulletin de Roses Anciennes en France
This biographical study examines the life and work of Edward Lippiatt, a significant yet understudied figure in rose breeding. Drawing on historical documents, nursery catalogues, and period horticultural writing, the article reconstructs Lippiatt’s contributions to cultivar development and his influence on early modern rose culture.
I support the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Botany Department by assisting with the identification of plant specimens across their collections and public submissions. This work contributes to the accuracy, accessibility, and ongoing refinement of the museum’s botanical records.
Rose breeding
I’ve always been drawn to the way humans shape and care for plants, especially garden varieties.
There’s something special about the relationship between nature and cultivation—how we nurture beauty, guide its growth, and leave our imprint on it.
Beyond research, I’ve had a great deal of fun experimenting with rose breeding, playing with pollen, and seeing how small interventions can lead to something entirely new.
Some of my creations have even been officially registered, each named after places or people that hold meaning for me.
objects design
Designing my own furniture is a very satisfying and creative endeavor.
I love the process of conceptualizing and crafting pieces that perfectly reflect my style and needs.
Each project allows me to experiment with different shapes, and functions, resulting in unique and personalized creations.
Fountain pens design
Archival memory &
cultural identity.
Reframing archives to probe identity, memory and culture.
→ Lucent
Capstone projects
Leadership of capstone projects across UX, speculative design, data storytelling, and service design, bridging industry and research practice.
Programme development
Design and delivery courses spanning graphic, interactive, and motion design.
Blended and hybrid learning using agile andragogy principles.
Photography coordination
Programme development, studio management, and lens-based project advising.
Oversight of the BMD/MDS online showcase.
Community & pastoral care
Active participation in Māori and Pasifika workshops.
Student support, pastoral care, and inclusive practice for diverse learners, including those with ADHD and non-visible disabilities.
Capstone Project: Practice‑based Inquiry
The Capstone Project provides students with the opportunity to undertake a substantial, self‑directed piece of practice‑based research.
I mentor students as they develop their research questions, refine their methodologies, and articulate the conceptual and material foundations of their work.
Through regular supervision, critical discussion, and iterative making, students learn to situate their practice within broader disciplinary conversations and to produce a resolved body of work that demonstrates intellectual rigour, creative maturity, and a clear sense of purpose.
Janon, J., & Brun, J. (2020). Aux origines des polyantha nains remontants. Bulletin de Roses Anciennes en France, 27.
Botanical Collections Support Volunteer
Furniture design
Designing fountain pens for myself is fun.
It's an immersive process that requires creativity and allows me to personalize every aspect of the pen.
Each pen reflects my personal style and preferences and sometimes personal history.
I welcome collaborations, commissions, research partnerships, and conversations.
