Nissen Richards Studio
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
Nissen Richards Studio firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Nissen Richards Studio industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Nissen Richards Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Nissen Richards Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- 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
Nissen Richards Studio product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Nissen Richards Studio
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Nissen Richards Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Nissen Richards Studio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Sp(r)int StudiomajorCollaborated 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 ArchitectsmajorNissen 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.
- PurcellcoreOngoing 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 AssociatescoreCollaboration 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 ArchitectscoreCollaboration on the National Portrait Gallery 'Inspiring People' refurbishment, shortlisted for RIBA Stirling Prize. Nissen Richards Studio served as Interpretation Designers.
- Witherford Watson ManncoreCollaboration 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 ZNAcoreRegular lighting design collaborator on exhibitions including Opplyst at National Library of Norway (Darc Awards win), National Portrait Gallery, and multiple other projects.
- Jason Bruges StudiomajorCreative collaborator on Life in the Dark exhibition at Natural History Museum, creating interactive installations including bioluminescent 3D seascape. Project won D&AD Pencil.
- Carolyn DowningmajorSound designer collaborating on exhibitions including 'Goya and Munch: Modern Prophecies' at MUNCH in Oslo, creating immersive sound installations.
- ArupcoreEngineering collaborator on Sutton Hoo project, providing technical expertise for the viewing tower and landscape interventions.
- Venue LabmajorCollaboration on Magazine London, a major new cultural and commercial venue on the Thames waterfront in Greenwich.
- Vibration GroupmajorCollaboration partner on Magazine London live music venue project, along with Broadwick Live and Knight Dragon.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Nissen Richards Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
Nissen Richards Studio social profiles
Digital presenceNissen Richards Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nissen Richards Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Nissen Richards Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nissen Richards Studio 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 Nissen Richards Studio
What does Nissen Richards Studio do?
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.
Is Nissen Richards Studio a public or private company?
Nissen Richards Studio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Nissen Richards Studio founded?
Nissen Richards Studio was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Nissen Richards Studio based?
Nissen Richards Studio is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Nissen Richards Studio make money?
One revenue line is on record: professional Services - Architecture and Design.
Who are Nissen Richards Studio's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Snøhetta and Foster + Partners. Direct peers are Haley Sharpe Design, Real Studios, Casson Mann, Event Communications, Land Design Studio, Ralph Appelbaum Associates and Mather & Co. Local Projects is listed as an emerging player.
Does Nissen Richards Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nissen Richards Studio.
What industry is Nissen Richards Studio in?
Nissen Richards Studio's product category is Architecture & Exhibition Design. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAG, Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting, with a secondary code of IMAFABAE, Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders. Its NAICS code is 54141 and its SIC code is 8742.