Nissen Richards Studio

What Nissen Richards Studio does

Nissen Richards Studio is a London-based multidisciplinary architecture and design practice founded in 2010 by Pippa Nissen and Jim Richards. The studio integrates five core services under one practice: architecture, exhibition design, graphic design, interpretation design, and wayfinding. Its work spans cultural and heritage projects (museum exhibitions, visitor centres, historic building refurbishments, heritage site interpretation) alongside residential developments (eco homes, apartment schemes) and cultural venues (event spaces, music venues). The studio's portfolio includes award-winning commissions for clients such as the National Trust, National Portrait Gallery, British Museum, Courtauld Gallery, Natural History Museum, MUNCH Museum Oslo, Wallace Collection, and National Library of Norway, with international projects underway or completed across Europe, Scandinavia, Iceland, the Middle East, North America, and South and Southeast Asia.

The studio's technical signature combines architectural design with multi-sensory exhibition environments that incorporate light, sound, and material design, often delivered in collaboration with specialist partners such as Studio ZNA (lighting), Jason Bruges Studio (interactive installations), and Carolyn Downing (sound design). Conservation-accredited credentials (Jim Richards holds RIBA Conservation Architect status) underpin the practice's ability to secure planning permission and Listed Building Consent for sensitive heritage sites such as the John Rylands Library, Wiener Holocaust Library, and Newark Castle. The studio has accumulated approximately 45 industry awards as of May 2024, including RIBA National Awards, RIBA Stirling Prize shortlistings, D&AD Pencil, and Alternative Stirling Prize.

The business operates as a privately held, founder-owned professional services firm (Nissen Richards Studio Limited, registered in England). Revenue is generated through project-based commissions typically acquired via direct client relationships, competitive tenders, and design competitions; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The studio is led by co-founders Pippa Nissen and Jim Richards with a senior team of eight Associates and Senior Associates. Marketing relies on industry awards, editorial coverage, and director-level speaking and jury engagements rather than paid channels. The practice maintains a sub-brand, 'A Museum for Now', a thought-leadership forum examining the future of museums.

Name

Nissen Richards Studio

Legal name

Nissen Richards Studio Limited

Website

https://nissenrichardsstudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nissen Richards Studio is a London-based multidisciplinary architecture and design practice integrating architecture, exhibition design, graphic design, interpretation, and wayfinding. It serves cultural institutions, heritage organizations, residential developers, and venue operators across the UK and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture & Exhibition Design

NAICS

Interior Design Services (54141), Graphic Design Services (54143), Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Exhibition design services
• Museum architecture design
• Heritage interpretation design
• Wayfinding graphic design
• Cultural venue design

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Architecture and Design: The studio generates revenue through project-based commissions for architecture, exhibition design, graphic design, wayfinding, and interpretation services. Projects range from small-scale exhibitions to major museum refurbishments and architectural interventions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nissen Richards Studio is a multidisciplinary design practice that delivers architecture, exhibition design, graphic design, interpretation, and wayfinding services for museums, galleries, heritage sites, and select residential and cultural-venue developments. The studio operates as a project-based consultancy, taking commissions from concept through delivery for cultural institutions, heritage organizations, and property developers in the UK and internationally.

Product overview

Nissen Richards Studio is a multidisciplinary architecture and design practice offering integrated services across five core areas: Architecture, Exhibition Design, Graphic Design and Branding, Interpretation Design, and Wayfinding Design. The studio works across cultural, heritage, and commercial sectors, designing projects ranging from major museum exhibitions and visitor centres to residential developments and event venues. Their portfolio includes award-winning projects for clients including the National Trust, British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, and various international museums.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A Museum for Now: A sister website and forum that examines what museums could and should be, now and in the future. Features essays by the practice's team and students from London Metropolitan University.

Products and services

• Architecture Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Hartdene Barns development achieved carbon net zero eco homes 10-15 years ahead of typical UK housing in sustainability
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers16 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Sp(r)int StudiomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2026Collaborated with local Icelandic design partner Sp(r)int Studio on The Gígur Visitor Centre in Iceland, completing permanent exhibition, interior and graphic design.
• Niall McLaughlin ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 February 2026Nissen Richards Studio is part of the winning multidisciplinary team for the international design competition to create the new Museum of Jesus' Baptism at Bethany, Jordan, working alongside Kim Wilkie Landscape, Arup and Studio ZNA.
• PurcellcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2024Ongoing collaboration with architecture firm Purcell on multiple major projects including Shoemakers Museum (Somerset), RIBA's 66 Portland Place transformation, and various heritage projects.
• Donald Insall AssociatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the £7.6m transformation of John Rylands Library in Manchester. Nissen Richards Studio created exhibition design structures and wayfinding, working with conservation architects.
• Jamie Fobert ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the National Portrait Gallery 'Inspiring People' refurbishment, shortlisted for RIBA Stirling Prize. Nissen Richards Studio served as Interpretation Designers.
• Witherford Watson ManncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on The Courtauld Gallery renovation, which won RIBA National Award 2023 and People's Poll Award. Nissen Richards Studio were gallery and exhibition designers.
• Studio ZNAcoreTechnology or IntegrationRegular lighting design collaborator on exhibitions including Opplyst at National Library of Norway (Darc Awards win), National Portrait Gallery, and multiple other projects.
• Jason Bruges StudiomajorTechnology or IntegrationCreative collaborator on Life in the Dark exhibition at Natural History Museum, creating interactive installations including bioluminescent 3D seascape. Project won D&AD Pencil.
• Carolyn DowningmajorTechnology or IntegrationSound designer collaborating on exhibitions including 'Goya and Munch: Modern Prophecies' at MUNCH in Oslo, creating immersive sound installations.
• ArupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering collaborator on Sutton Hoo project, providing technical expertise for the viewing tower and landscape interventions.
• Venue LabmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Magazine London, a major new cultural and commercial venue on the Thames waterfront in Greenwich.
• Vibration GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner on Magazine London live music venue project, along with Broadwick Live and Knight Dragon.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Snøhetta: Global architecture and design practice with a major cultural-institution portfolio (museums, libraries, opera houses). Overlaps on architecture-led cultural projects but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope than Nissen Richards.
• Foster + Partners: Global architecture incumbent with extensive museum and cultural-institution portfolio (British Museum Great Court, Smithsonian, etc.). Competes for the same cultural-sector clients as Nissen Richards but at a much larger scale and broader design remit.

Direct peers

• Haley Sharpe Design: Leicester-based exhibition, interpretation and wayfinding design practice with a similar focus on heritage and cultural-sector clients. Comparable in service mix and UK/international cultural project profile.
• Real Studios: UK exhibition and interior design studio specializing in museums, galleries and cultural attractions. Closely comparable in scale, sector focus and the integration of exhibition, interior and interpretive design for major UK cultural clients.
• Casson Mann: London-based multidisciplinary exhibition and museum design practice with a similar portfolio of UK national museums and cultural institutions. Directly comparable on project type, client profile (V&A, Natural History Museum, British Museum) and integrated architecture/exhibition/graphic delivery model.
• Event Communications: London-based museum and visitor attraction design consultancy working on permanent and temporary exhibitions, interpretation and wayfinding. Overlaps directly with Nissen Richards' exhibition, interpretation and wayfinding services for cultural institutions.
• Land Design Studio: UK-based design studio specializing in museums, galleries and cultural attractions with a focus on interpretation and exhibition design. Comparable on cultural-sector client base and integrated design delivery model.
• Ralph Appelbaum Associates: Global museum and exhibition design practice with an extensive portfolio of cultural institutions. Comparable on exhibition/interior/interpretation design for major museums, but operates at a larger global scale than Nissen Richards.
• Mather & Co: UK museum, visitor centre and heritage interpretation design firm. Comparable in cultural-sector client base and integrated exhibition/interpretation offering, particularly for heritage attractions and visitor experiences.

Emerging players

• Local Projects: US-based design studio focused on interactive and interpretive museum/visitor experience design. Comparable on exhibition/interpretation work for cultural institutions, with stronger focus on interactive technology and digital media experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NISSENRICHARDS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nissen-richards-studio-limited
• Instagraminstagram.com/nissenrichardsstudio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Nissen Richards Studio