What Playmodes does

Playmodes is an audiovisual research studio based in La Pera, in the Barcelona area of Catalonia, Spain. Founded in 2006 by Eloi Maduell (Computer Engineer) and Santi Vilanova (Graphic Designer), the studio designs and fabricates bespoke generative audiovisual installations for cultural institutions, art and light festivals, performing arts venues, and experience-focused museums. Over nearly two decades it has produced more than 50 named installations exhibited on all continents, including kinetic light matrices (Signes, Liquid Tiles), laser and robotic-mirror sculptures (Espills, BLOOBS, ASTRES), immersive tunnels (Beyond, Cluster), opera scenography (Benjamin at Portbou), interactive museum installations (VJYourself!), and generative print series (Constel·lacions).

The studio's technology stack is entirely self-developed. Core systems include the OceaNode open-source visual programming framework for controlling hundreds of parameters through wave-motion oscillator banks, custom image sonification algorithms that convert visual pixels into audio, and behavioral algorithm libraries (FULLER, SPAGHETTI, FEATHER, SNAKE, KALEIDOSCOPE, DUALITY) implemented in Processing/Java, OpenFrameworks/C++, and proprietary firmware. All hardware elements—rotating light bars, robotic mirrors, custom light fixtures, electronic circuits—are designed, engineered, and fabricated in-house, including co-developed industrial-scale kinetic systems with manufacturing partners such as Lightnet.

Playmodes operates on a project-based professional services model with bespoke commissioning fees determined per project, supplemented by licensing arrangements for permanent museum installations (e.g., VJYourself! at WNDR and Hopscotch museums) and by open-source community engagement through OceaNode on GitHub. Go-to-market is event-driven and sales-led through direct institutional engagement, international festival commissions, and word-of-mouth; the company is independently held with no disclosed external investors.

Name

Playmodes

Legal name

Playmodes

Website

https://playmodes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Playmodes is a Barcelona-based audiovisual research studio, founded in 2006 by Eloi Maduell and Santi Vilanova, that designs and fabricates bespoke generative kinetic light, sound, and interactive installations for cultural institutions, festivals, museums, and opera houses worldwide using entirely in-house hardware and software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audiovisual Art Installations

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Outsourced Art/Audio Production Services (2D/3D, Animation, VFX, Audio/VO) (MPAFAKAM)

Keywords

• Audiovisual installations
• Generative art
• Real-time graphics
• Immersive media
• Interactive installations

Headquarters

HQ city

La Pera

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Art Installations: Bespoke audiovisual installations commissioned by cultural institutions, festivals, opera houses, and museums. Projects range from large-scale light installations (Liquid Tiles, ASTRES) to opera scenography (Benjamin at Portbou) and interactive museum installations (VJYourself!). Revenue is project-based with custom pricing per commission.
2. Licensing and Software Tools: Open source software (OceaNode) is freely available, but custom software development and specialized tools may be licensed to partners or collaborators for specific installations.
3. Permanent Installation Licensing: Interactive installations like VJYourself! are permanently installed at museums (WNDR Museum Chicago, Hopscotch Museum Portland/San Antonio) suggesting licensing or long-term revenue arrangements.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Playmodes is a Barcelona-based audiovisual research studio that designs and produces commissioned audiovisual installations, live performances, and generative art pieces. The studio creates custom real-time generative systems for cultural institutions, museums, festivals, and opera houses, blending technology, art, and scenography into immersive experiences.

Product overview

Playmodes is an audiovisual craft workshop based in Barcelona, creating custom installations and instruments at the intersection of art and technology. Their portfolio centers on generative visual music through projects like Signes (kinetic light and sound installations with rotating modular matrices), Liquid Tiles (kinetic audiovisual canvases with Truchet tiling), FORMS series (graphic sonification performances and installations including ppff with automated piano, Espectres with spectrogram synthesis, and string quartet performances), and standalone installations like Espills (laser light sculptures), VJYourself! (interactive dance installations), and HORIZON/Beyond (immersive tunnel experiences). All works are built using proprietary software frameworks (OceaNode, custom Processing/Java/C++ tools) developed in-house, enabling real-time generative audiovisual compositions that never repeat exactly. Led by Eloi Maduell and Santi Vilanova since 2006, their work spans light sculptures, kinetic instruments, projection mapping, immersive installations, and audiovisual instruments exhibited on all continents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ distinct installations created and exhibited internationally over nearly 20 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• LightnetcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026German lighting manufacturer collaborating on Liquid Tiles project. Lightnet engineered and manufactured hardware components (126 rotating light fixtures) while Playmodes developed all firmware, software, and generative systems. Collaboration inspired by Lightnet's Liquid Line product ensemble, demonstrating industry-arts crossover innovation.
• ETSETB UPC (Telecommunications School of Barcelona)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration for ASTRES project combining laser projection mapping, spatialized audio, and star firmament visualization. Art-science intersection project with technical engineering school.
• Gran Teatre del LiceucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpera house collaboration for 'Benjamin at Portbou' world premiere. Playmodes contributed scenic adaptation of 'Signes' installation with 12x6 meter kinetic light matrix. Worked with lighting designer Andreu Fabregas, director Anna Ponces, and composer Antoni Ros-Marba.
• Quartet BrossasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerString quartet collaboration for FORMS String Quartet live multimedia performance. Musicians interpreted generative graphic scores while visuals built the scenography.
• ZFIL (Center for International Light Art)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibition venue for 'Signes' at RADIANT exhibition (April-October 2024). ZFIL is one of few European art centers devoted exclusively to light art exhibition, with permanent collection including James Turrell, Olafur Eliasson, Rebecca Horn.
• Institut Ramon LlullminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatalan cultural institute co-funded the exhibition of 'Beyond' at Luma Festival Binghamton (September 2023). Supports international promotion of Catalan arts.
• UOC (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommission for Constel·lacions generative print series for university graduation ceremony. 3000 unique pieces created based on star positions from UOC founding date.
• Digital Impact / Sonar+DcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned and curated ppff installation at Gran Teatre del Liceu. Digital Impact and Sonar+D initiated and supported the project combining visual art and music technology.
• Jorquera Pianos / Carles HorváthminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPiano preparation and maintenance for ppff automated player piano installation.
• Generalitat de Catalunya (ICEC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises (ICEC) and Department of Culture subsidized FORMS String Quartet project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jason Bruges Studio: London design studio specializing in permanent architectural installations blending art, design and technology. Directly comparable in commissioning model with cultural venues and corporate clients.
• Rhizomatiks: Tokyo-based creative studio led by Daito Manabe producing boundary-pushing audiovisual performances combining technology, dance and music. Comparable in producing opera scenography and live multimedia performances.
• NONOTAK Studio: Paris-based duo (Noemi Schipfer and Takami Nakamoto) creating light and sound installations. Highly comparable as a small creative-duo studio producing minimalist immersive audiovisual installations for art centers.
• Miguel Chevalier: French digital artist known for large-scale generative projected installations. Comparable as an independent artist creating projection-mapping and generative visuals for museums and festivals.
• Studio DRIFT: Dutch art studio creating large-scale kinetic sculptures and immersive installations (e.g., Shylight, Franchise Freedom). Directly comparable bespoke kinetic light-and-sound installations for museums and exhibitions.
• United Visual Artists (UVA): London-based practice designing large-scale audiovisual installations combining light, sound and movement. Closely comparable in delivering site-specific kinetic audiovisual experiences for cultural institutions.
• Random International: London-based studio creating large-scale kinetic and immersive light installations (e.g., Rain Room, Swarm Study). Directly comparable as a creator of bespoke experiential art installations for museums and cultural venues.

Broad incumbents

• teamLab: Japanese interdisciplinary art collective producing massive immersive digital art exhibitions with proprietary real-time rendering. Overlaps with Playmodes in generative audiovisual installations but operates at much larger scale with permanent venues.
• Moment Factory: Montreal-based multimedia studio producing immersive experiences (e.g., Lumina night walks, ARENA shows). Comparable end-customer and output type but at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Refik Anadol Studio: LA-based media artist creating AI-driven generative audiovisual installations and data sculptures. Comparable as a generative-AV art studio but with focus on AI/machine-learning datasets rather than kinetic hardware.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/playmodesstudio
• Facebookfacebook.com/playmodesstudio

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 Playmodes