Arterial Design

What Arterial Design does

Arterial Design is a Melbourne-based, privately held multi-disciplinary design consultancy founded in 2007, operating with a team of 11–50 employees. The firm delivers immersive, multi-sensory experiential design for cultural institutions, zoos, aquariums, museums, government bodies, and public spaces, combining theater design, filmmaking, industrial design, multimedia production, and architectural fabrication under a single in-house model. Service areas span seven disciplines: multimedia production (animation, 3D motion graphics, projection mapping, AR, sound design), immersive experiences, museum and exhibition design, playspaces, public art, zoos and aquariums, and wayfinding/interpretation. Notable technical installations include the eight-projector Billabong silicone-rod curtain at the Waltzing Matilda Centre and interactive science exhibitions such as Cell Invaders (T-cell therapy) at MOD Museum.

The studio generates revenue through professional services commissions for bespoke project delivery, acquired via institutional and government tenders, direct client engagement, and long-term collaborative relationships with peer practices including Taylor Cullity Lethlean, Urban Initiatives, OLA Studio, and ARM Architecture. Pricing is project-by-project with no public fee schedule disclosed. Anchor clients include Merlin Entertainment (SEA LIFE aquariums across Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and South Korea since 2013), Melbourne Zoo, the National Museum of Australia, MOD Museum at the University of South Australia, Disney (via SEA LIFE), and various Australian municipal councils. The firm has accumulated approximately 40 international design awards since 2011, including a 2025 BUILD Design & Build Award for Best Immersive Environment Design Consultancy Firm, and operates a Reconciliation Action Plan with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.

Name

Arterial Design

Legal name

Arterial Design

Website

https://arterialdesign.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arterial Design is a Melbourne-based, privately held multi-disciplinary design consultancy that delivers immersive, multi-sensory experiential design — including exhibition, wayfinding, public art, and multimedia production — for museums, zoos, aquariums, and government clients across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Experiential Design Consultancy

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (541410), Interior Design Services (54141), Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Exhibition design services
• Immersive experience design
• Museum exhibition design
• Wayfinding signage design
• Multimedia production services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fitzroy

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design and Exhibition Services: Arterial generates revenue through commissions for the design, fabrication, and installation of experiential spaces, museum exhibitions, playspaces, wayfinding systems, and public art installations. Projects are delivered for institutional and government clients across Australia and internationally, with each engagement custom-designed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arterial Design is a Melbourne-based multidisciplinary design studio that designs, fabricates and installs immersive spaces for museums, cultural institutions, zoos, aquariums, playspaces, public art, and wayfinding projects. The studio combines digital technology (animation, 3D motion graphics, projection mapping, interactive touchscreens, soundscapes, augmented reality) with built form and physical fabrication to deliver multi-sensory visitor experiences. Projects are delivered bespoke, end-to-end, from concept and storytelling through to fabrication, installation, and project management.

Product overview

Arterial Design is a Melbourne-based multidisciplinary design studio offering a portfolio of specialized services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include Multimedia Production (animation, game development, projection mapping, sound design, AR), Immersive Experiences, Museums & Exhibitions, Playspaces, Public Art, Zoos & Aquariums, and Wayfinding & Interpretation. Key named projects include The Billabong Experience at Waltzing Matilda Centre, Cell Invaders at MOD SA, the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre at National Museum of Australia, Keeper Kids and Ranger Kids zoo playspaces, Sea Life Aquariums redevelopment, and Lemur Exhibit Melbourne Zoo. The company combines digital technology with built form to create immersive spaces that are unique, educational and highly interactive, targeting cultural institutions, museums, zoos, public spaces, and educational facilities globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arterial Design: Multi-disciplinary design firm specializing in immersive experiences, museum exhibitions, playspaces, zoos and aquariums, public art, and wayfinding

Products and services

• Multimedia Production Award-winning multimedia production service for institutional and cultural clients, covering animation, game development, touch interactives, immersive projection mapping, filming and editing, sound design, and augmented reality. Delivered as a contracted service for museums, cultural institutions and experiential projects.
• Immersive Experiences Experiential design service that creates multi-sensory visitor journeys using visuals, audio, digital effects, projection and lighting to tell stories, inspire and intrigue audiences. Targeted at cultural attractions, brand environments and public spaces.
• Museums and Exhibitions End-to-end exhibition design service using lighting, projection, interactive multimedia and digital technology to create engaging, multi-sensory and transforming museum visitor experiences. Delivered for museums, cultural centres and interpretive institutions.
• Playspaces Design service for child-centered interactive play environments, focusing on interactivity, educational outcomes and self-guided play. Targeted at museums, zoos, schools and public spaces seeking environments that stimulate imagination and learning.
• Public Art Design and delivery of public artworks that respond to site and community needs, telling stories of history and culture in unique and dynamic ways across materials and forms. Commissioned by councils, cultural institutions and developers.
• Zoos and Aquariums Design service for zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks that integrates habitat interpretation, immersive storytelling and themed structures to create life-changing visitor connections to wildlife and their habitats.
• Wayfinding and Interpretation Wayfinding signage and interpretive design service that connects audiences to place through narrative, providing clear safety, navigation and accessibility information while communicating heritage and identity for cultural, civic and commercial precincts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 multi-disciplinary awards globally recognised across interior design, art installation, architecture, spatial design, exhibition design, visual communication and permanent installation.

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OLA StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOLA Studio (also referred to as OLA Architecture Studio/Architecture) has been a key collaborator on multiple projects including Melbourne Zoo Leopard Ridge and Carnivores Trail, Melbourne Zoo Lemur Island, and Leopard Lodge. The collaboration is referred to as the 'ARK' collaboration, involving Arterial Design, Urban Initiatives and Ola Studio. OLA provides architectural expertise on these zoo and wildlife destination projects.
• Urban InitiativescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban Initiatives is a long-standing lead consultant and landscape designer partner, working on projects across wayfinding, memorial design, zoo environments, and public spaces including Port Macquarie Wayfinding, Strathewen Bushfire Memorial, Fremantle City Wayfinding, Princess Wallington Bina Park, Melbourne Zoo Lemur Island (ARK collaboration), Melbourne Zoo Carnivores Trail, and Melbourne Zoo Carnivores Trail. Described as Lead Consultants on several major projects.
• Taylor Cullity Lethlean (TCL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaylor Cullity Lethlean served as Lead Consultants and landscape designers on the National Arboretum Playscape (Canberra) and Camberwell Grammar Junior Playground. TCL is a prominent landscape architecture firm contributing to the overall landscape design while Arterial delivered the play and interpretive elements.
• ARM ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerARM Architecture provided architectural support on the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre at the National Museum of Australia project. The four-year project saw ARM working alongside Arterial for the architectural delivery.
• Glas Landscape ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Glas Landscape Architects on The System Garden Masterplan, which received an AILA Victorian Landscape Architecture Award for Land Management in 2018.
• ConsolidatedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsolidated handled fabrication for the Port Phillip Creative Wayfinding project. Arterial designed the signage and Consolidated manufactured and installed the 2.4-metre tall sculptural wayfinding signs.
• Phase3 Landscape ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPhase3 Landscape Construction was the construction partner for the Wireless Hill Memorial (The People) war memorial project in the City of Melville, Western Australia.
• Merlin Entertainment (SEA LIFE Brand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerlin Entertainment's SEA LIFE brand has engaged Arterial since 2013 for ongoing aquarium redevelopment across Australia and Asia. Arterial also collaborated with the SEA LIFE Global Brand team to create world-first displays with major partners such as Disney for the Finding Dory & Friends exhibit. Merlin operates SEA LIFE Aquariums in Melbourne, Sydney, Bangkok, Busan, and Auckland.
• DisneyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisney partnered with SEA LIFE and Arterial Design for the Finding Dory & Friends exhibit, a world-first display travelling throughout Australian and New Zealand SEA LIFE attractions.
• Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArterial engages with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation for cultural consultations on projects located on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung land. The company has a Reconciliation Action Plan and works closely with Traditional Owners to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in all projects, engaging them from the planning phase of each project.
• Murrup Barak Melbourne Institute for Indigenous DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArterial consults with the Indigenous Student Success Team at Murrup Barak Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development to discuss capacity building opportunities for graduates as part of their Reconciliation Action Plan commitments.
• SupplyAusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArterial has established a relationship with SupplyAus to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplier diversity to support improved economic and social outcomes, as part of their Reconciliation Action Plan.
• City of Port PhillipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Port Phillip commissioned Arterial to complete the creative wayfinding signage design and production for St Kilda Arts Precinct. The project won Gold awards at both the 2024 and 2023 Wild Design Awards. Arterial worked with the council as the client throughout design and production.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Local Projects: Interactive experience and exhibition design studio known for museums and cultural institutions, integrating digital technology with built form. Overlaps directly with Arterial's Immersive Experiences and Museums & Exhibitions practices.
• Thinkwell Group: Global experience design and production firm building museums, theme parks, and immersive attractions for entertainment and cultural clients. Direct overlap with Arterial's zoos, aquariums, and immersive experiences practice at larger scale.
• Casson Mann: UK-based exhibition and museum design firm delivering interpretive and immersive environments for galleries and cultural venues. Comparable to Arterial in offering multi-sensory exhibition design for institutional clients.
• Studio Joseph: Exhibition and museum design firm producing narrative-driven interpretive environments for cultural and institutional clients in the US and internationally. Closely comparable service mix to Arterial's museums & exhibitions line.
• BRC Imagination Arts: Brand experience and immersive storytelling studio working with brands, museums, and cultural venues on permanent and traveling attractions. Direct overlap with Arterial's immersive experience and zoo/aquarium work.
• Land Design Studio: Australian cultural landscape and wayfinding design practice working on zoos, parks, and interpretive environments. Comparable in scale and client focus to Arterial, particularly in the wayfinding and zoo/aquarium spaces.
• Ralph Appelbaum Associates: World-leading museum and exhibition design firm producing permanent and temporary interpretive installations for cultural institutions globally. Directly comparable to Arterial's museums & exhibitions service line, with deeper scale but similar institutional client base.

Others

• Taylor Cullity Lethlean (TCL): Prominent Australian landscape architecture firm that collaborates with Arterial on multiple award-winning projects including National Arboretum Playscape. Adjacent collaborator rather than direct competitor.
• Urban Initiatives: Australian landscape architecture and design practice collaborating with Arterial on memorials, wayfinding, and zoo environments. Recurring partner rather than competitor, with overlapping client network.
• Glas Landscape Architects: Australian landscape architecture firm that has collaborated with Arterial on award-winning projects such as The System Garden Masterplan. Adjacent collaborator in the cultural landscape space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arterial-design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Arterial Design