Kvorning Design and Kommunikation

What Kvorning Design and Kommunikation does

Kvorning Design and Kommunikation ApS (KVORNING) is a privately held Danish design firm founded in 1992 by Arne Kvorning and headquartered in Copenhagen. The firm specialises in exhibition design, storytelling, scenography, and immersive experience design for museums, cultural-heritage institutions, brand-experience centres, visitor centres, World Expos, and aquariums/oceanariums. Its service offering spans concept development, masterplanning, spatial and graphic design, AV/interactive media integration, and turnkey delivery of physical exhibitions, supported by a curated portfolio of 14 product/service categories and proprietary showcase and furniture systems (BUG, WIRE, ELLIPSE) marketed via a separate bugsystems.dk site.

The firm operates a network-based international delivery model through strategic partnerships with architects and specialist firms in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Japan, and Australia, alongside repeated collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects, Snøhetta, Henning Larsen, Lundgaard & Tranberg, and Art+Com. Since 1992 it has completed more than 5,000 design solutions and 500+ exhibitions across 50+ countries and 6 continents for clients including LEGO, Carlsberg, Novo Nordisk, Topsoe, Benetton, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, Innovation Norway, and multiple Nordic municipal and national museums.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services: design fees, total enterprise contracts, and phase-gated milestone payments on multi-year projects, with work acquired through invited and open international design competitions, direct commissions, and long-term repeat-client relationships. Pricing is bespoke and not publicly disclosed. KVORNING ranks among the world's top 10 exhibition design firms and has accumulated significant award recognition in 2024–2026 (German Design Award Gold, ICONIC Awards Gold, FIT Awards 2026 Gold, Årets Museum 2024). The firm has no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or M&A activity.

Name

Kvorning Design and Kommunikation

Legal name

KVORNING APS

Website

https://kvorning.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kvorning Design and Kommunikation is a Copenhagen-based Danish design firm founded in 1992 that delivers exhibition design, storytelling, scenography, and immersive experience projects for museums, brand-experience centres, and World Expos across 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Exhibition Design & Scenography — Professional Services: KVORNING generates revenue through project-based professional services engagements. These are won through international competition and direct commission. Engagements range from concept development, masterplanning, and design through to total turnkey delivery (design + production + installation). Revenue is earned as one-time project fees, total enterprise contracts, or phase-gated milestone payments on large-scale multi-year projects. The firm works across 50+ countries and 6 continents, delivering 5,000+ projects since 1992.
2. Exhibition Production & Installation: Turnkey delivery of designed exhibitions including physical production, fabrication, mechanical/kinetic systems, AV/integrated media, lighting, and installation. Often delivered as total enterprise contracts in partnership with specialist production and installation partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kvorning Design and Kommunikation is an international, network-based design firm that develops and delivers exhibition design, storytelling, scenography, and immersive experience design for museums, cultural heritage institutions, brand experience centers, and World Expo pavilions. The firm works across the full project lifecycle from concept and masterplanning through design, production, and turnkey installation, deploying both physical scenography and integrated AV, projection, kinetic, lighting, and interactive media systems.

Product overview

Kvorning Design and Kommunikation is an international, network-based design company specializing in concept development, strategy, design, scenography, and the creation of engaging experiences and exhibitions. Founded in 1992, the company offers a comprehensive portfolio of services including museum design and exhibitions, storytelling and scenography, brand experiences and visitor centers, expo pavilions, centerpieces and art installations, treasuries and collections, architecture and experience design, signage and wayfinding, master plans and transformations, outdoor and landscape design, as well as specialized showcases, products and systems. Their offerings range from concept development and masterplanning through to complete turnkey delivery of exhibitions and experiences across 6 continents with more than 5,000 completed projects since 1992.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum Design and Exhibitions
• Storytelling and Scenography
• Brand Experiences and Visitor Centers
• Expo Pavilions and World Expos
• Architecture and Experience Design
• Signage and Wayfinding
• Master Plans and Transformations
• Outdoor and Landscape Experience Design
• Zoos, Aquariums and Oceanariums Design
• Treasuries and Collections Display
• Showcases, Products and Exhibition Systems
• Graphic Design and Visual Identity
• Trade Fair Stands
• Centerpieces and Art Installations

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,000+ design solutions and experiences completed since 1992
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and minor.

• GagarincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGagarin from Iceland is a key strategic partner for KVORNING, collaborating on multiple Nordic and international exhibition projects including the Nordic Circle at EXPO 2025 Osaka, 'Vår verdensarv' World Heritage exhibitions, Tungtvandskælderen, and Bergen Sjøfartsmuseum 2.0.
• Bright NorwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBright Norway collaborates with KVORNING on Norwegian cultural heritage projects including Norway's World Heritage exhibitions for Riksantikvaren, Hurtigrutemuseet, and Bergens Sjøfartsmuseum 2.0. The partnership has won multiple international competitions together.
• Skidmore, Owens & Merrill (SOM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOM (USA) was the client and lead architect for the large oceanarium and coral farm project in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. KVORNING developed the experience design and aquarium design as a specialist sub-consultant.
• Rintala Eggertsson ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian architecture firm Rintala Eggertsson Architects is a key partner for Nordic projects including the Nordic Circle EXPO 2025 Osaka pavilion and the Lofotakvariet competition. Collaborates as co-designer on projects requiring strong local Nordic expertise.
• Exponex s.r.o.majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerExponex (Czech Republic) is the production and installation partner for the Nordic Pavilion at World EXPO 2025 Osaka, as part of Team Exponex which KVORNING leads for concept and design.
• Wintenex AGmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWintenex AG (Switzerland) is a production and installation partner for the Nordic Pavilion at World EXPO 2025 Osaka, as part of Team Exponex.
• Habegger AGmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHabegger AG (Switzerland) is a production and installation partner for the Nordic Pavilion at World EXPO 2025 Osaka, as part of Team Exponex.
• AAT (Australia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAT from Australia is an aquarium specialist partner collaborating with KVORNING on the Jeddah Oceanarium and coral farm project, bringing deep expertise in aquarium-based experiences.
• LumodansupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLumodan collaborated with KVORNING and Danmarks Tekniske Universitet to develop a custom LED lighting system for the 1st treasure chamber (crown jewels) at Rosenborg Slot, specifically optimised for gold colour rendering.
• Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZHA in London invited KVORNING to develop exhibition concepts for the National Built Heritage Centre in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. KVORNING also worked with ZHA on the Assan, Misk Heritage Museum project.
• Art+Com (Berlin)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt+Com from Berlin collaborated with KVORNING on the Stevns Klint Besøgscenter competition proposal and REGAN Vest Cold War Museum concept, bringing advanced interactive media and data visualisation expertise.
• Henning Larsen ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHenning Larsen Architects and KVORNING collaborated on Postyrium for Det Kongelige Teater, where KVORNING further developed the theatre and HLA's concepts. Also collaborated on NN1 Novo Nordisk corporate campus in Bagsværd.
• SnøhettamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSnøhetta designed Petter Dass-museet and invited KVORNING to develop the exhibition concept and design as specialist exhibition designer.
• Lundgaard & Tranberg ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLundgaard & Tranberg Architects collaborated with KVORNING on the New Viking Ship Museum competition proposal and Classic Car House project, where the architects renovated and extended the former Agricultural Museum in Kongens Lyngby.
• Norm ArchitectssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorm Architects handled the restaurant interior design for Salmon Eye, collaborating with KVORNING's architectural and experience design for the floating visitor centre.
• Creative Technology NorwaycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative Technology Norway collaborated with KVORNING and Gagarin on the Tungtvandskælderen exhibition and 'Vår verdensarv' World Heritage exhibitions in Norway.
• E+N ArkitekturcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE+N Arkitektur (Denmark/Norway) collaborated with KVORNING on the Afvigernes Ø (Livø) project, where E+N Arkitektur was lead architect and total consultant, with KVORNING responsible for exhibition design.
• SLAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLA (landscape architects) collaborated with KVORNING on the Ærkebispegården project in Trondheim and the New Viking Ship Museum proposal, providing landscape architecture expertise.
• LPO arkitektersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPO arkitekter (Norway) was lead architect in the winning team with KVORNING for the MESTERVERKET project at Gamle Mesterfjellet skole in Larvik, Norway.
• Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDTU collaborated with KVORNING and Lumodan on the custom LED lighting system for the crown jewels at Rosenborg Slot, developing a system optimised for gold colour rendering.
• AAT (Aquarium Associates Team, Australia)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAT from Australia was a sub-consultant partner with KVORNING on the Lofotakvariet project for Museum Nord and SKREI Eiendom in Norway, providing specialist aquarium expertise.
• Rei Matsumoto (Japan)supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRei Matsumoto from Japan is a production and implementation partner in Team Exponex for EXPO 2025 Osaka, providing local Japanese market expertise.
• YOKEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYOKE (Denmark/Iceland) collaborated with KVORNING on the Snæfellsjökull National Park Centre competition in Iceland, developing the experience concept.
• Verkstæðið ehf. (Iceland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVerkstæðið ehf. is an Icelandic partner collaborating with KVORNING on the Snæfellsjökull National Park Centre project.
• Qdesign and CRAFTmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQdesign and CRAFT are the detail design and realisation partners for the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture 'Being Saudi?' exhibition in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, with KVORNING responsible for exhibition concept.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Casson Mann: UK-based, founder-led exhibition design firm with deep museum heritage (British Museum, Tower of London, V&A). Same project-based, competition-and-commission model and tightly comparable niche to Kvorning.
• Ralph Appelbaum Associates: Global leader in museum exhibition and experience design (USHMM, National Museum of African American History, Statue of Liberty). Competes for the same flagship cultural-heritage and museum commissions Kvorning pursues.
• Atelier Brückner: Stuttgart-based scenography firm widely regarded as Kvorning's closest continental peer - similar mix of museum, brand, and auto-pavilion scenography with comparable strength in immersive AV and interactive media integration.
• Batwin + Robin: New York-based firm specializing in museum and cultural-institution exhibition design (Children's Museum of Manhattan, Brooklyn Botanic Garden). Comparable size band and similar competition-driven museum pipeline as Kvorning.
• Mather & Co: UK-based exhibition and interactive design firm (International Slavery Museum, NFL Experience). Closely comparable mid-sized design firm competing in heritage and visitor-center exhibitions.
• Local Projects: New York-based interactive museum and experience design firm (National September 11 Memorial Museum, Cooper Hewitt). Direct competitor for narrative-driven, interactive museum commissions similar to Kvorning's scenography work.
• Event Communications: Long-standing London exhibition design firm (Natural History Museum, Mary Rose Museum). Same founder-era brand-experience orientation and similar position in the UK and international museum bid market.

Broad incumbents

• BRC Imagination Arts: Larger US narrative-experience firm focused on brand and cultural visitor centers (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Heineken Experience). Overlaps with Kvorning on turnkey brand-experience delivery but with broader brand-attraction orientation.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture firm with a small in-house exhibition and visitor-experience practice and a partner of Kvorning on referenced projects. Comparable end-client base in museums and World Expos but materially larger scale and broader scope.
• Snøhetta: Oslo-headquartered architecture firm and Kvorning partner on Petter Dass-museet and other Nordic projects. Acts as both enabler (inviting Kvorning as sub-consultant) and potential substitute for in-house exhibit design on its own commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Kvorningdesign
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kvorning-design-&-kommunikation
• Instagraminstagram.com/kvorning_aps

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Kvorning Design and Kommunikation