What ISO does

ISO (trading as ISODESIGN, legally The ISO Organisation Limited) is a Glasgow-based creative technology studio founded in 1998 that designs and builds large-scale immersive digital experiences for museums, cultural institutions, heritage organisations, broadcasters, and brands. The studio works across the full project arc — concept, design, production, and installation — delivering permanent gallery experiences, AV installations, interactive exhibits (including RFID-triggered and touchscreen systems), film and animation production, CGI reconstructions, digital interpretation, and UX/interface design. Technical capabilities centre on bespoke content management systems with RFID integration for visitor engagement and data capture, projection mapping (including architectural mapping onto historical structures), proximity-sensor interactives, and broadcast-grade motion graphics.

The company operates a project-based professional services revenue model with custom multi-year engagements; specific contract values are not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market is sales-led and direct, relying on portfolio reputation and longstanding relationships with cultural institutions across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Distribution is via direct enterprise engagement rather than active marketing channels. ISO is privately held with no disclosed external funding, has 11–50 employees, and is led by founder and CEO Damien Smith. Enterprise clients include the BBC, Channel 4, V&A, Tate, Imperial War Museum, Siemens, JCB, and the Titanic Belfast Experience, with recognition including a 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize shortlisting for the Command of the Oceans exhibition and a 2016 Scottish Royal Television Society award for The Story of Scottish Art.

Name

ISO

Legal name

The ISO Organisation Limited

Website

https://isodesign.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISO (ISODESIGN) is a Glasgow-based creative technology studio with 25+ years' experience designing and building immersive digital experiences, AV installations, and interactive exhibits for museums, cultural institutions, broadcasters, and brands across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Technology Services for Cultural Institutions

NAICS

Interior Design Services (541410), Industrial Design Services (541420), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG)

Keywords

• Immersive digital experiences
• Interactive museum exhibits
• Audio visual installations
• Exhibition design services
• Creative technology studio

Headquarters

HQ city

Glasgow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Creative Technology Services: Design and build large-scale immersive digital experiences for museums, cultural institutions and brands across concept, design, production and installation phases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

ISODESIGN is a Glasgow-based creative technology studio that designs and builds large-scale immersive digital experiences for museums, cultural institutions, heritage organisations, broadcasters and brands. It works across the full arc of a project, from concept and design through production to installation, delivering permanent gallery experiences, interactive exhibits, AV installations, digital interpretation, film and animation, CGI reconstructions, and UX/interface design.

Product overview

ISO is a Glasgow-based creative technology studio with over 25 years of experience designing and building large-scale immersive digital experiences for museums, cultural institutions, and brands. The studio operates across the full arc of a project — concept, design, production, and installation — delivering permanent gallery experiences, AV installations, interactive exhibits, film and animation production, digital interpretation, CGI reconstructions, and UX/interface design for clients across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. The offering consists of multiple service lines rather than a unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Immersive Digital Experiences End-to-end design and build of large-scale immersive digital experiences for museums, cultural institutions, heritage organisations and brands, covering concept, design, production and installation.
• Permanent Gallery Experiences Design and production of permanent gallery experiences for museums and cultural institutions.
• Audio-Visual Installations Audio-visual installations integrated into display architecture for galleries, heritage sites and exhibitions, creating immersive environments for visitors.
• Interactive Exhibits with Custom CMS Interactive digital installations and touch screens using proximity sensors, RFID integration and a custom content management system, enabling visitor engagement, digital rewards and visitor-flow data capture for museum and exhibition operators.
• Film and Animation Production Creation of animated films, title sequences and motion graphics for television broadcasters, exhibitions and digital platforms.
• Digital Interpretation Digital storytelling and interpretation solutions that help cultural institutions communicate complex narratives to visitors.
• CGI Reconstructions Computer-generated imagery and 3D reconstructions of historical sites, artifacts and environments for museum exhibitions, including 1:1 scale reconstructions.
• UX and Interface Design User experience and interface design services for digital applications, websites and interactive platforms, including broadcaster streaming services.

Quantifiable outcome

• BBC iPlayer served 3.5 million programmes in first three weeks (vs. 500,000 hoped for) and reached 123 million monthly play requests by May 2010
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jack MortonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked with global brand experience agency Jack Morton to deliver graphics and visual effects for the XX Commonwealth Games 2014 Opening Ceremony.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Emerging players

• Holition: London-based studio specialising in immersive and interactive digital experiences for museums, retail and luxury brands. Comparable to ISO's immersive/AV/interactive work, particularly the brand side, with a more technology-forward positioning.

Direct peers

• Thinkwell Group: Experience design and production company developing themed attractions, museum exhibits and brand experiences worldwide. Comparable to ISO on the visitor attraction and corporate brand-experience side, with larger scale and US base.
• Casson Mann: Award-winning London exhibition design practice creating permanent galleries for major UK and international museums. Comparable to ISO on the museum permanent-gallery side, with overlapping clients in the UK heritage and cultural sector.
• Squint/Opera: London-based immersive experience studio designing permanent galleries, interactive exhibits and digital installations for the world's leading museums and cultural institutions. Closely comparable to ISO in service offering (immersive experiences, AV, interactives) and target client base (V&A, National Museum of Qatar, etc.).
• ESI Design: New York-based experience design firm specialising in immersive, interactive environments for museums, cultural institutions and brands. Highly comparable to ISO across permanent gallery design, interactive exhibits and digital interpretation for cultural sector clients.
• BRC Imagination Arts: Global experience design firm specialising in branded attractions, museum experiences and immersive environments for cultural institutions and corporate brands. Comparable to ISO's blend of museum and brand/corporate visitor centre work (e.g. JCB, Siemens).
• Ralph Appelbaum Associates: One of the world's leading museum exhibition design firms with major permanent gallery projects across UK and international cultural institutions. Directly comparable to ISO in museum permanent-gallery focus and blue-chip cultural clients.
• Mather & Co: UK-based exhibition and experience design studio producing interactive and immersive museum exhibits. Directly comparable to ISO in audience (museums and visitor attractions) and approach (combining physical design with digital interactive content).

Broad incumbents

• Universal Design Studio: London-based design studio working across interior, product and brand experience with significant cultural and hospitality clients. Overlaps with ISO on immersive interior environments for high-profile cultural and commercial venues.
• Jack Morton Worldwide: Global brand experience agency delivering large-scale events, installations and immersive experiences for enterprise brands. Already collaborates with ISO (XX Commonwealth Games 2014) and represents the larger-scale competitor that could absorb ISO's museum/brand specialism.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ISO