Pure+Applied
Pure+Applied is a New York-based design studio founded in 2002 that specializes in exhibition design, book design, graphics, and visitor experience design for cultural institutions including museums, libraries, historic sites, and government agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Pure+Applied does
Pure+Applied is a privately held design studio founded in 2002 and headquartered in New York City, specializing in exhibition design, book design, graphics, and visitor welcome experience design for cultural institutions. The studio's work spans museums, libraries, historic sites, government agencies, publishers, and auction houses, with a marquee client portfolio that includes the New York Public Library, Library of Congress, Museum of Modern Art, Sotheby's, Cooper Hewitt, Taschen, and the NYC Department of Transportation. Core service offerings include interpretive planning, exhibition identity, wayfinding systems, visitor center design, and publication design for exhibition catalogs and art books.
The studio operates primarily through direct client engagement with cultural and governmental organizations, with marketing concentrated on a portfolio-driven website. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured on a project-scope basis typical of professional design services. With 11–50 employees, Pure+Applied operates as a boutique practice, and the absence of documented funding, M&A, or partnership activity indicates a privately controlled, organically grown operation. The studio's competitive positioning relies on accumulated institutional credibility, repeat commissions from prestigious cultural clients, and specialized expertise in translating curatorial content into physical and graphic visitor experiences.
Pure+Applied firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pure+Applied
- Legal name
- Pure+Applied
- Website
- https://pureandapplied.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pure+Applied is a New York-based design studio founded in 2002 that specializes in exhibition design, book design, graphics, and visitor experience design for cultural institutions including museums, libraries, historic sites, and government agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pure+Applied industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Exhibition and Publication Design Services
- NAICS
- Graphic Design Services (541430), Other Specialized Design Services (54149), Graphic Design Services (54143)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)
Keywords
Where Pure+Applied is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Pure+Applied business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Pure+Applied product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pure+Applied is a design studio that designs and delivers exhibitions, books, and graphic systems for cultural institutions. Services include exhibition design, publication design, exhibition graphics and identity, wayfinding and signage, and visitor center/welcome experience design for museums, libraries, historic sites, and government agencies.
Product overview
Pure+Applied is a design studio offering exhibition design, book design, graphics, and visitor welcome experience services for museums, libraries, and cultural institutions. The company's portfolio includes major projects for clients such as the New York Public Library, Library of Congress, Museum of Modern Art, Sotheby's, and Taschen, among others. The studio specializes in creating immersive exhibition experiences, producing publications, and developing visitor center designs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Exhibition Design Design and development of museum and cultural institution exhibitions, including visitor experience design, wayfinding, and interactive installations, for museums, libraries, historic sites, and government agencies.
- Book Design
- Graphics
- Visitor Welcome Experience
Companies that use Pure+Applied
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Pure+Applied technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Pure+Applied partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Pure+Applied competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- C&G Partners: C&G Partners is a New York-based design firm specializing in exhibition design, wayfinding, and cultural institution branding. It directly competes with Pure+Applied for museum, library, and cultural-sector commissions such as those delivered for MoMA, Library of Congress, and other major institutions.
- Reich & Petch: Reich & Petch is an internationally recognized exhibition design firm specializing in museums and cultural institutions. It is one of the most directly comparable studios to Pure+Applied in scale, services, and clientele within the cultural exhibition design niche.
- 2x4: 2x4 is a design studio with offices in NYC and elsewhere that produces exhibition graphics, identity systems, and publication design for museums and cultural institutions. Its multidisciplinary cultural-sector practice closely mirrors Pure+Applied's exhibition, book, and graphics work.
- ESI Design: ESI Design is a New York-based experiential design firm specializing in museums, cultural attractions, and visitor centers. It is directly comparable to Pure+Applied's exhibition and visitor welcome experience design services for major cultural institutions.
- Local Projects: Local Projects is a New York design studio specializing in museum, exhibition, and interactive experience design. It serves cultural institutions with permanent and traveling exhibitions—directly comparable to Pure+Applied's exhibition design work for MoMA, NYPL, and Smithsonian-affiliated museums.
- Office of Communication Design: Office of Communication Design is an NYC-based design firm specializing in museum exhibition graphics, wayfinding, and visual identity. It serves many of the same cultural institution categories as Pure+Applied, including museums, libraries, and historic sites.
Broad incumbents
- Pentagram: Pentagram is the world's largest independent design firm, with multiple NYC partners working across exhibition graphics, book design, and cultural institution identity. While broader in scope than Pure+Applied, it competes for the same museum, library, and publisher projects at the upper end of the market.
- Wolff Olins: Wolff Olins is a global brand consultancy with cultural and public-sector practices. While primarily a brand consultancy, it competes for cultural institution identity and experience design work that overlaps with Pure+Applied's exhibition graphics and visitor experience services.
Emerging players
- Mucca: Mucca is a New York-based branding and design studio with experience in cultural and museum identity work. It overlaps with Pure+Applied in graphic design and exhibition identity but is broader in branding scope.
- Temporary State: Temporary State is an exhibition design studio producing museum and gallery installations, including work for cultural institutions. It competes with Pure+Applied at a similar scale within exhibition design for cultural venues.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pure+Applied social profiles
Digital presencePure+Applied financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pure+Applied leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Pure+Applied funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pure+Applied M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pure+Applied
What does Pure+Applied do?
Pure+Applied is a design studio that designs and delivers exhibitions, books, and graphic systems for cultural institutions. Services include exhibition design, publication design, exhibition graphics and identity, wayfinding and signage, and visitor center/welcome experience design for museums, libraries, historic sites, and government agencies.
Is Pure+Applied a public or private company?
Pure+Applied is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Pure+Applied founded?
Pure+Applied was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pure+Applied based?
Pure+Applied is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Pure+Applied's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are C&G Partners, Reich & Petch, 2x4, ESI Design, Local Projects and Office of Communication Design. Broad incumbents are Pentagram and Wolff Olins. Emerging players are Mucca and Temporary State.
Does Pure+Applied have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pure+Applied.
What industry is Pure+Applied in?
Pure+Applied's product category is Exhibition and Publication Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAL, Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design. Its NAICS code is 541430 and its SIC code is 7330.