Studio ESEM
Studio ESEM is a Sydney-based digital interpretation and design studio founded in 2011, delivering immersive public art, heritage storytelling, and multi-sensory experiences via its proprietary STORYBOX platform for government agencies, museums, councils, and universities across Australia and New Zealand.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersDarlinghurst, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Studio ESEM does
Studio ESEM is a Sydney-based digital interpretation and design studio founded in 2011 by Dr. Sarah Barns and Michael Killalea. The firm operates as a boutique consultancy delivering strategic design, immersive public art, heritage interpretation, and multi-sensory storytelling for government agencies, cultural institutions, local councils, and universities across Australia and New Zealand. Its core proprietary product is STORYBOX, a bespoke digital exhibition and storytelling platform purpose-built for public places and precincts, launched in 2020 and deployed at sites including Parramatta Square, the Australian Museum, and the National Gallery of Australia.
The studio's service portfolio spans strategic design consulting, public art installations, digital interpretation and heritage storytelling, technical AV design, digital strategy, and design and branding. Projects are delivered through project-based engagements with multi-year contracts, supported by an in-house technical infrastructure designed for outdoor Australian environments and complemented by a network of First Nations collaborators, heritage specialists, and creative technologists. Notable clients include Transport for NSW, Bathurst Regional Council, the Australian Museum, Museums of History NSW, National Gallery of Australia, Government Architect NSW, Hassell, and Western Sydney University, alongside award-winning installations at Vivid Sydney and the Bathurst Winter Festival.
Studio ESEM is privately held with no disclosed external investment. The company rebranded from Esem Projects in 2024 to reflect its expanded focus on civic digital experiences and maintains a digital-first marketing posture through its website, newsletter In the Making, and thought-leadership publishing. The firm operates with a small core team and extended practitioner network, generating revenue through bespoke client commissions rather than standardized offerings.
Studio ESEM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Studio ESEM
- Legal name
- Studio ESEM
- Website
- https://studioesem.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Studio ESEM is a Sydney-based digital interpretation and design studio founded in 2011, delivering immersive public art, heritage storytelling, and multi-sensory experiences via its proprietary STORYBOX platform for government agencies, museums, councils, and universities across Australia and New Zealand.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Studio ESEM industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Interpretation & Design Services
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Suites (HDAEAGAB)
Keywords
Where Studio ESEM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Darlinghurst
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Studio ESEM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Creative and Professional Services: Studio ESEM generates revenue through project-based creative and professional services, including strategic design consulting, public art installation programs, digital interpretation and heritage storytelling, technical and AV design services, and digital strategy engagements. Revenue is earned through client commissions and project fees for government agencies, cultural institutions, and urban development organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based professional services with custom scope and pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Studio ESEM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Studio ESEM is a digital interpretation and design studio that crafts immersive digital experiences, strategies, and engagement programs that enliven local history, participatory storytelling, and shared connections to place. The studio combines strategic design consulting, public art installations, digital interpretation and heritage storytelling, and technical AV design services. Their proprietary STORYBOX platform supports digital exhibitions and place-based storytelling for public places and precincts.
Product overview
Studio ESEM operates as a digital interpretation and design studio offering a portfolio of services centered around public art installations, digital interpretation, and storytelling programs. Their core product is STORYBOX, a digital exhibition platform for place-based storytelling. The studio combines Strategic Design Services, Public Art Installations, Digital Interpretation & Storytelling, Technical & AV Design, Digital Strategy, and Design/Branding services to deliver immersive experiences for civic and cultural clients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- STORYBOX: A bespoke digital exhibition and storytelling platform for public places and precincts, launched in 2020.
Products and services
- STORYBOX A bespoke digital exhibition and storytelling platform for public places and precincts, designed for cross-platform engagement with curatorial programs and partnerships centered around place-based storytelling.
- STORYBOX Places A public space media initiative operating as a stand-alone platform supporting digital exhibitions and place-based storytelling in public spaces.
- Strategic Design Services Policy and strategy development, engagement program design, and storytelling approaches for urban designers, placemakers, cultural precincts and museum organisations.
- Public Art Installations & Programs Experiential public art installations creating multi-sensory spaces using projection and lighting design, immersive soundscape and installation design.
- Digital Interpretation & Storytelling Research-led digital heritage and interpretation programs that enliven connections to place history through content creation, public history, and storytelling.
- Technical & AV Design Services Audio-visual design and technical delivery for immersive installations, including digital projections, sound installations, and custom immersive displays for outdoor environments.
- Digital Strategy & Platform Insights Urban data strategy and digital strategy services for cultural and public value outcomes.
- Design, Art Direction & Branding Brand and identity design and art direction services across print, digital, and experiential formats.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 60,000 people experienced the Arrivals and Departures Welcome Celebrations at Barangaroo over three months
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Studio ESEM
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Studio ESEM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Studio ESEM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- HassellcoreLong-standing strategic partnership on public art strategy projects. Collaborated on Western Sydney University Hawkesbury Campus Public Art Strategy and Sydney Airport Corporation Art Strategy framework for T2/T3 precinct redevelopment.
- GML HeritagecoreCollaborative partnership on heritage interpretation projects including Gadigal Metro Station public art installation for Transport NSW and Digital Interpretation Strategy for Maitland Gaol.
- Arts Centre of ChristchurchcoreClient and strategic collaborator on the Rutherford's Den interactive science museum redevelopment. Studio ESEM served as lead curators and designers for this landmark project in New Zealand.
- Lightwell StudiosupportingCollaborated with Lightwell Studio as creative technologists on interactive museum exhibits for Rutherford's Den project.
- Code on CanvassupportingCommissioned as creative technologists for Rutherford's Den interactive museum exhibits, providing digital services and technical expertise.
- Tactile MusicsupportingCollaborated on Rutherford's Den project, contributing to the interactive and hands-on exhibits development.
- RMIT UniversitysupportingDr. Sarah Barns serves as Senior Research Fellow at RMIT's Centre for Urban Research, supporting research connections and academic partnerships.
- Travis de Vries (Awesome Black)supportingFirst Nations creative collaborator working with Studio ESEM on authentic Indigenous storytelling and cultural engagement programs.
- Brendan Blacklock (Blacklock Media)supportingFirst Nations creative collaborator contributing to authentic Indigenous storytelling and cultural interpretation projects.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Studio ESEM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Universal Everything: Universal Everything is a UK-based digital art and experience studio creating immersive projection and multi-sensory installations for cultural and public-realm clients — a comparable peer in the immersive, projection-led public-art space where Studio ESEM operates.
- HASSELL: HASSELL is an Australian architecture and design practice with a public-art strategy practice that Studio ESEM partners with on Western Sydney University Hawkesbury Campus and Sydney Airport Corporation — directly comparable on civic placemaking and public-art strategy.
- Local Projects: Local Projects is a New York-based experience design studio renowned for interactive museum and cultural-institution installations, closely matching Studio ESEM's STORYBOX work for the Australian Museum and National Gallery of Australia.
- Unified Field: Unified Field is a New York experience design firm specialising in digital media and interactive installations for museums, retail, and public spaces — closely aligned with Studio ESEM's STORYBOX and public-art delivery model.
- Moment Factory: Moment Factory is a Montreal-based multidisciplinary studio specialising in immersive, large-scale projection, sound, and lighting experiences for public spaces and cultural venues — directly comparable to Studio ESEM's outdoor AV and projection work for Vivid Sydney, Sydney Airport and civic clients.
Regional players
- Frost*collective: Frost*collective is an Australian independent creative and brand-experience agency working with cultural and public-sector clients, providing a same-geography, partial-overlap peer to Studio ESEM's civic and cultural interpretation work.
Broad incumbents
- Snøhetta: Snøhetta is a globally established architecture and design firm with a strong cultural-institution and public-space portfolio, offering an adjacent, broader-incumbent comparison to Studio ESEM's interpretive design work for museums and civic precincts.
- Pentagram: Pentagram is a global, partner-led design consultancy with cultural-institution and public-sector clients; it offers a broader-incumbent comparison to Studio ESEM's art-direction and brand-identity services for civic clients.
- Jack Morton Worldwide: Jack Morton is a global brand experience agency that delivers immersive public-realm and cultural installations for major brands and destinations, providing a larger-incumbent peer to Studio ESEM's outdoor AV and festival work.
Others
- Arup Australasia: Arup's Australasian audiovisual and experience-design teams deliver technical AV design and engineering for cultural precincts and transport projects such as Sydney Metro, an adjacent infrastructure peer relevant to Studio ESEM's AV-design and transport-installation work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Studio ESEM social profiles
Digital presenceStudio ESEM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Studio ESEM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Studio ESEM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Studio ESEM 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 Studio ESEM
What does Studio ESEM do?
Studio ESEM is a digital interpretation and design studio that crafts immersive digital experiences, strategies, and engagement programs that enliven local history, participatory storytelling, and shared connections to place. The studio combines strategic design consulting, public art installations, digital interpretation and heritage storytelling, and technical AV design services. Their proprietary STORYBOX platform supports digital exhibitions and place-based storytelling for public places and precincts.
Is Studio ESEM a public or private company?
Studio ESEM is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Studio ESEM founded?
Studio ESEM was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Studio ESEM based?
Studio ESEM is headquartered in Darlinghurst, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Studio ESEM make money?
One revenue line is on record: creative and Professional Services.
Who are Studio ESEM's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Universal Everything, HASSELL, Local Projects, Unified Field and Moment Factory. Frost*collective is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Snøhetta, Pentagram and Jack Morton Worldwide. Arup Australasia is listed as an others.
Does Studio ESEM have an API?
No public API is recorded for Studio ESEM.
What industry is Studio ESEM in?
Studio ESEM's product category is Digital Interpretation & Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAIAJ, Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams), with a secondary code of HDAEAGAB, Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Suites. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 8742.