Formations

What Formations does

Formations Inc. is a privately held, project-based professional services firm founded in 1989 and headquartered in Troutdale, Oregon (Portland metro). The company provides end-to-end interpretive exhibit design, fabrication, and installation for institutional clients, operating a vertically integrated production facility that combines interpretive planning, exhibit and graphic design, media production (concept development, scriptwriting, storyboarding, video editing, interactive design and programming), and in-house fabrication across carpentry, electrical, lighting, plastics, metal work, printing, and on-site installation.

The firm's client base is concentrated in the public and nonprofit sectors: U.S. National Park Service sites (Wright Brothers Memorial, Klondike Gold Rush, Governors Island/Castle Williams, Great Smoky Mountains, Governors Island), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges (John Heinz, Audubon), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facilities, California State Parks, San Diego County, museums (Muhammad Ali Center, Carrie M. McLain, Frederick Law Olmsted), zoos (Oregon Zoo), universities (Mississippi State/Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library), and corporate visitor centers (Louisville Slugger Museum, Tillamook Creamery, SAGE Center). Project scale ranges from approximately 1,400 to 32,000 square feet.

Revenue is generated through fixed-price project contracts awarded via direct proposal and bidding processes. The firm maintains a small named team (approximately 15 professionals including leadership, designers, fabricators, content specialists, and project managers) and has operated without disclosed external venture capital, private equity, or acquisition activity. The company website and contact information (503-665-7110) indicate ongoing operations as of 2026.

Name

Formations

Legal name

Formations Inc.

Website

https://formationsinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Formations Inc. is a privately held, Portland/Troutdale, Oregon-based firm founded in 1989 that provides end-to-end interpretive exhibit design, fabrication, and installation services for museums, National Park Service sites, wildlife refuges, zoos, and corporate visitor centers across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Exhibit Design and Fabrication Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590)

akta.pro primary industry

Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry (MPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations) (BPAFAGAK)

Keywords

• Exhibit design services
• Custom fabrication services
• Museum exhibit fabrication
• Interpretive exhibit planning
• Thematic interior design

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Exhibit Design and Fabrication Services: Project-based professional services revenue from designing, fabricating, and installing custom interpretive exhibits and thematic interiors for institutional clients. Revenue derived from fixed-price project contracts with government agencies, museums, educational institutions, and corporate clients. Services span planning, design, media production, project management, and full fabrication/installation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Formations provides end-to-end planning, design, fabrication, and installation of interpretive exhibits and thematic interiors for museums, national parks, wildlife refuges, zoos, universities, and corporate visitor centers. Services span interpretive planning, exhibit and graphic design, media production (video and interactive experiences), and in-house fabrication including carpentry, electrical, lighting, plastics, metal work, and printing, delivered as integrated fixed-price projects from its Troutdale, Oregon facility.

Product overview

Formations Inc. is an award-winning Portland, Oregon-based firm founded in 1989 that specializes in a single unified service offering: end-to-end planning, design, fabrication, and installation of interpretive exhibits and thematic interiors. Their integrated service combines interpretive planning and design, media production (including video, interactive development, and programming), and in-house fabrication capabilities spanning carpentry, electrical, lighting, plastics, metal work, and printing. The company serves diverse subject areas including natural and social history, cultural heritage, sports, and corporate experiences, delivering projects ranging from 1,400 to 32,000 square feet for clients including National Park Service, museums, zoos, and corporate attractions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Interpretive Exhibit Planning and Design Services Comprehensive interpretive planning, exhibit design, and content development for interpretive exhibits and thematic interiors across natural history, cultural, sports, and corporate sectors. Sold to museums, national parks, wildlife refuges, zoos, universities, and corporate visitor centers as a contracted engagement.
• Media Production Services Executive media production including concept development, scriptwriting, storyboarding, art direction, photography, video editing, interaction design, and programming for films and interactive exhibits. Provided as part of contracted exhibit projects.
• Custom Fabrication Services In-house fabrication across carpentry (custom cabinetry, exhibit fabrication, props, dioramas, fine finishes), electrical (electronics, mechanics, special effects, animation, motion control), lighting design and installation, plastics (sculpting, fiberglass, laminate, acrylic, foam fabrication), printing and mounting, metal work, and transportation and storage. Sold as part of contracted exhibit projects.
• Project Management and Installation Services Overall project management, prototyping and material sampling, financial budgeting, and site coordination from conception through installation for interpretive exhibit projects. Delivered as part of contracted engagements with institutional clients.

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• C&G Partners: C&G Partners is a design firm specializing in museums, visitor centers, and brand exhibits with interpretive planning and graphic design capabilities that overlap with Formations' planning and design services.
• Split Rock Studios: Split Rock Studios designs and fabricates museum exhibits, traveling exhibits, and visitor experiences for cultural institutions and corporate clients, overlapping with Formations' interpretive and corporate-visit-center offerings.
• Roto Studio: Roto is an experience design and fabrication firm creating museum, brand, and visitor-center installations with integrated design and production comparable to Formations' end-to-end service offering.
• Maltbie: Maltbie is a full-service museum and exhibit fabrication firm offering design, fabrication, and installation for interpretive exhibits — the closest head-to-head competitor to Formations in capability and client mix (museums, visitor centers, corporate attractions).
• HealyKohler Design: HealyKohler Design is a museum and exhibit design firm specializing in interpretive planning and exhibit design for natural and cultural history institutions, aligning closely with Formations' interpretive planning focus.
• Tangram Exhibit Services: Tangram is a design-build exhibit fabricator servicing museums, trade shows, and experiential environments with in-house fabrication and installation comparable to Formations' integrated facility model.
• Hadley Exhibits: Hadley Exhibits is a full-service exhibit design and fabrication firm serving museums, visitor centers, and brand experiences — a direct peer competing for the same interpretive exhibit project pipeline as Formations.
• Berkshire Design Group: Berkshire Design Group designs and fabricates exhibits and interpretive environments for museums, zoos, aquariums, and visitor centers — a direct peer competing for the same institutional client base as Formations.
• Solid Light Creative: Solid Light is an award-winning exhibit design and fabrication firm serving museums, visitor centers, and corporate attractions with integrated planning, design, and fabrication services comparable to Formations' integrated model.
• Color-Ad Corporation: Color-Ad is a custom exhibit fabrication firm producing museum, retail, and corporate experiences with integrated design, fabrication, and installation services that directly compete with Formations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/exhibitdesignbuild
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/formations-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

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 Formations