What Hands On! Studio does

Hands On! Studio is a privately held, founder-led boutique design firm that plans and designs interactive exhibitions for museums, science centers, children's museums, art institutions, nature centers, and cultural organizations. Founded around 1990 by Greg Belew (Principal, Designer & Architect) and headquartered in Parrish, Florida, the firm has operated continuously for more than three decades and completed over 50 named projects across the United States, Canada, Northern Ireland, Kuwait, Egypt, Brazil, and Chile. The client base is composed entirely of nonprofit institutional buyers, ranging from small community museums to flagship institutions such as Discovery Place, Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, Kidspace Children's Museum, Kentucky Science Center, Boston Children's Museum, Science North, National Inventors Hall of Fame, and W5 Belfast. Notable work has earned third-party validation including the 2020 American Alliance of Museums Excellence in Exhibition Award (River Alive!) and the 2020 Canadian Association of Science Centres Cascade Award (THINK).

The firm's service portfolio covers the full exhibit development lifecycle: strategic and formative planning, content research and development, conceptual master planning, experience ideation, exhibit and environmental design, conceptual renderings, floor plans, 3D modeling, graphic design, digital media concepting, architectural advising and coordination, fabrication management, installation management, and exhibit prototyping and evaluation. The studio executes this work using standard digital design tools — AutoCAD, Solidworks, and SketchUp — for 2D and 3D modeling; it does not develop proprietary software products. The core team of approximately six members (licensed architects, exhibit designers, museum educators, content developers, and project managers) is supplemented by project-specific collaborators, including recurring partners such as Habithèque Inc., Main Street Design, Creative Machines, MKSK, Coyle & Caron, and renowned architectural firms (Moshe Safdie, James Stewart Polshek, Lake/Flato, MGA Partners). Revenue is generated exclusively through custom-quoted, project-based professional services engagements; no public pricing exists.

Go-to-market is sales-led and consultative: direct engagement with museum executive directors, boards, and curatorial staff, supported by the firm's comprehensive project portfolio website, prominent client testimonials, industry awards, and word-of-mouth referrals within the museum and science center community. The firm has no disclosed institutional investment, no funding rounds, and remains founder-controlled after 30+ years. Recent and upcoming projects — including Discovery Place Children's Museum Kuwait (2023), The Backyard at Scott Family Amazeum (Summer 2025), and Make Your World at Kentucky Science Center (Spring 2027) — demonstrate continued pipeline momentum across U.S. and international markets.

Name

Hands On! Studio

Legal name

Hands On! Studio

Website

https://hostudio.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hands On! Studio is a privately held, founder-led boutique design firm that plans and designs interactive exhibitions for museums, science centers, and cultural institutions. Founded around 1990 and based in Florida, the firm has delivered 50+ projects across the US and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Museum Exhibit Design & Planning Services

NAICS

Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Studio Tours & Visitor Experiences (MPADAIAL), Makerspaces & Fab Labs (Open Build Studios) (EDAMADAC)

Keywords

• Museum exhibit design
• Exhibition planning services
• Museum master planning
• Interactive exhibit development
• Cultural institution design

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Exhibit Planning & Design: Hands On! Studio generates revenue through offering professional services including strategic planning, content research, conceptual master planning, exhibit and environmental design, conceptual renderings, floor plans, 3D modeling, label writing, graphic design, digital media concepting, architectural advising, budgeting, scheduling, fabrication management, and installation management. Services are delivered as project-based engagements with institutional clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hands On! Studio is a professional services firm that plans and designs exhibits and environments for museums, science centers, art institutions, and cultural organizations. The studio delivers strategic planning, content research, conceptual master planning, exhibit and environmental design, renderings, 3D modeling, graphic design, digital media concepting, architectural coordination, fabrication management, and installation oversight as project-based engagements for nonprofit institutional clients.

Product overview

Hands On! Studio is a museum exhibit planning and design firm offering comprehensive services including strategic planning, content development, conceptual master planning, exhibit and environmental design, 3D modeling, graphic design, digital media production, architectural coordination, fabrication management, and installation oversight. The company's service portfolio encompasses strategic planning, research and development, concepting, design execution, and full project lifecycle management. Their exhibition work spans three primary categories: Science & Nature exhibitions, Art & History exhibitions, and Children's Museum exhibitions. Notable named projects include the award-winning River Alive! and THINK exhibitions, the Galvin Physics Forest, Science in Play and its portable variant SIP2GO, and numerous children's museum projects including facilities in Kuwait, Maine, and New York. The firm also provides specialized services for outdoor nature centers, maritime museums, and science centers, working with clients ranging from small community museums to major institutions like the National Inventors Hall of Fame and W5 Belfast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Planning & Formative Planning Services Foundational planning service that helps museums and cultural institutions build successful, sustainable institutions through visioning, business strategy, budgeting, architectural space planning, operations, capital campaigns, marketing, education, and programming.
• Content Research & Development Research and development of exhibition content, educational messaging, and interpretive approaches tailored to each client's mission and audience.
• Conceptual Master Planning Comprehensive master planning that defines project vision, mission, goals, and a clear roadmap for realization in an operationally sustainable way.
• Exhibit & Environmental Design Designing intuitive experiences within beautiful, uplifting environments where visitors can interact with ideas, objects, and each other.
• Conceptual Renderings, Floor Plans & 3D Modeling Visual representations of exhibition designs including renderings, floor plans, and 3D models for client visualization and fundraising.
• Graphic Design, Art Direction & Production Designing labels, graphic panels, signage, and all visual communication materials for exhibitions.
• Digital Media Concepting, Storyboarding & Scripting Developing interactive media concepts, storyboards, and scripts for multimedia exhibition elements.
• Architectural & Infrastructure Advising & Coordination Coordinating between clients, architects, and contractors to advise on building programs, infrastructure, and exhibition-architectural interfaces.
• Fabrication & Installation Management Managing the fabrication, installation, and implementation of exhibition elements through completion.
• Science & Nature Exhibitions Exhibitions focusing on natural science, environmental education, and nature-based interactive experiences for museums and science centers.
• Art & History Exhibitions Exhibitions exploring art appreciation, historical narratives, and cultural heritage through hands-on, interactive approaches.
• Children's Museum Exhibitions Play-based learning exhibitions designed specifically for children's museums, focusing on interactive experiences for young visitors and families.
• River Alive! An award-winning exhibition at Independence Seaport Museum exploring the Delaware River watershed through hands-on challenges, interactive media, live exhibits, theater, and citizen science experiences. Winner of AAM's Excellence in Exhibition Award for Special Achievement – Interactivity (2020).
• THINK STEAM experiences and program spaces at Science North featuring flexible program spaces, prototype lab, fabrication lab, and open-ended experiences promoting building, testing, and problem solving. Winner of CASC Best Exhibition or Show – Large Institution (2020).
• Galvin Physics Forest A 27,000 square foot outdoor science learning environment at Kidspace Children's Museum featuring kinetic exhibits integrated with native landscaping for hands-on physics exploration.
• Science in Play 2 Go (SIP2GO) A 1,200 square foot portable version of Science in Play designed for libraries, serving underserved communities with interactive science experiences for kindergarten readiness.
• Discovery Place Children's Museum, Kuwait A 12,000 square foot multidisciplinary children's museum within The Scientific Centre of Kuwait featuring six experience zones including Power House, Clubhouse, and Story Place.
• Go, See & Do (W5) A 30,000 square foot exhibition at W5 in Belfast, Northern Ireland creating an 'oasis of peace' through science exhibits and installation art encouraging imagination and collaboration.
• The Backyard A one-acre outdoor play space at Scott Family Amazeum in Bentonville, Arkansas featuring collaborative risk-taking experiences and interactive outdoor activities.
• Make Your World A 9,500 square foot 'making' and creativity space at Kentucky Science Center featuring open-ended platforms, interactive media, and activities from coding to construction.
• The New CMTM The new 30,000 square foot Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine in Portland, designed to connect diverse communities through cultural traditions, art, music, and theater.

Quantifiable outcome

• Physics Forest redesign drove earned revenue breaking records at Kidspace Children's Museum.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Habithèque Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHabithèque Inc., led by Victoria Prizzia, serves as project manager and creative lead on multiple Hands On! Studio projects including River Alive! (Independence Seaport Museum), River Alive! Learning Trail, Tulpehaking Nature Center, and Floating Water Workshop. The partnership combines Hands On!'s exhibit design expertise with Habithèque's content development and project management capabilities for immersive environmental education experiences.
• HandymakesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHandymakes served as content developer alongside Hands On! Studio and Habithèque Inc. on the River Alive! exhibition at Independence Seaport Museum, providing content development for the immersive hands-on and interactive media experience.
• Main Street DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain Street Design collaborated with Hands On! Studio on the THINK exhibition at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario, providing exhibit fabrication and installation management support.
• MKSK Landscape ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMKSK Landscape Architecture collaborated with Hands On! Studio on the PlayWorks at Waterfront Park project for Louisville Waterfront Development Corp. and Kentucky Science Center, providing landscape architecture services for the 1.5-acre outdoor community space.
• Creative MachinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative Machines collaborated with Hands On! Studio on the PlayWorks at Waterfront Park project, providing specialized fabrication for the industrial-themed outdoor play installations.
• Coyle & Caron Landscape ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoyle & Caron Landscape Architects collaborated with Hands On! Studio on Discovery Place Nature, providing live exhibits coordination and landscape architectural services for the reimagined nature center experience.
• Moshe SafdieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned architect Moshe Safdie has partnered with Greg Belew and Hands On! Studio to create beautifully designed projects that integrate exhibition and architectural environments, including the ArtZeum project at the Telfair Museum of Art.
• James Stewart PolshekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned architect James Stewart Polshek (Polshek & Partners Architects) has partnered with Greg Belew and Hands On! Studio on museum projects to create integrated exhibition and architectural experiences.
• Lake/FlatominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural firm Lake/Flato has partnered with Greg Belew and Hands On! Studio on museum projects to ensure seamless integration of exhibition design with building architecture.
• MGA PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural firm MGA Partners has partnered with Greg Belew and Hands On! Studio on museum projects to create integrated exhibition and architectural environments.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Local Projects: Experience design firm specializing in interactive museum exhibits and storytelling environments for cultural institutions — directly comparable for hands-on, technology-rich exhibition design.
• Roto Group: Design and fabrication firm focused on interactive exhibits for museums, zoos, and visitor centers — directly competes for the same institutional clients with similar end-to-end exhibit capabilities.
• ESI Design: Experience design studio creating interactive exhibits and environments for museums, cultural institutions, and brand experiences — directly competes in the same design-led, project-based delivery model.
• Gallagher & Associates: Museum and cultural institution experience design firm offering master planning, exhibit design, and interpretive services — directly comparable to Hands On! in scope and client base.
• Jack Rouse Associates: Experience design and strategy consultancy for museums, attractions, and cultural institutions — comparable in master planning and audience-driven exhibit strategy work.
• AldrichPears Associates: Museum planning and exhibit design consultancy serving cultural institutions globally — closely comparable in strategic planning and exhibit master planning services.
• Tellart: Experience design studio building interactive exhibits and installations for museums and cultural institutions — directly comparable for technology-enabled hands-on museum experiences.

Broad incumbents

• BRC Imagination Arts: Larger experience design firm working across museums, theme parks, and brand attractions — broader scope and scale but overlapping museum exhibit design capabilities.
• Thinkwell Group: Larger experience design and production firm spanning museums, theme parks, and live events — overlapping on cultural institution exhibit design with significantly greater resources.

Emerging players

• SmartStory: Boutique exhibit design and media production firm serving cultural institutions — emerging niche competitor with overlapping children's museum and science center work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Hands On! Studio