Vignettes

What Vignettes does

Vignettes is an Edmonton-based experiential design studio that creates large-scale public art installations, permanent municipal infrastructure, murals, placemaking projects, and branded event activations. The company serves a B2B client base comprising municipal governments (City of Edmonton, City of Calgary), educational institutions (University of Alberta), airports (Edmonton International Airport), destination management organizations (Explore Edmonton), public libraries (Edmonton Public Library), and nonprofits (Alberta Cancer Foundation, Downtown Van, Edmonton Mural Festival) primarily across Western Canada. Vignettes delivers turnkey project execution from concept and design through fabrication and on-site installation, working on both permanent structures such as the 32-foot Edmonton Illuminated city sign, the Helen Nolan Park Pavilion, and the Avenue Collection site furnishings, and temporary activations such as pop-up parks, the Spherescape overhead installation in Vancouver, and large-scale JUNO Awards and CCMA/CFR event activations.

The studio operates without a proprietary software platform; its technical foundation is a cross-disciplinary in-house capability spanning design, fabrication (including sustainably milled Douglas Fir for the Mackenzie Collection product line), and installation, supported by a Sanity.io content management system for portfolio presentation. No AI/ML systems, patents, or licensed technology are disclosed. The business model is project-based with one-time fees per engagement and no recurring or subscription component. Projects are secured through direct client engagement and RFP processes with municipal and institutional buyers; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Marketing is limited to organic channels — a portfolio website, Instagram, and LinkedIn — with no paid acquisition or outbound sales infrastructure indicated.

Vignettes is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, parent company, or management team. The company maintains a single office at 9750 60 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, and serves clients across Alberta and British Columbia. No revenue, headcount, or founding date is disclosed in available sources, and there is no indication of acquisition, closure, or ownership transition.

Name

Vignettes

Legal name

Vignettes

Website

https://vignettestm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vignettes is an Edmonton-based experiential design studio that designs, fabricates, and installs public art, permanent municipal infrastructure, murals, and branded event activations for government, education, airport, and nonprofit clients across Western Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Experiential Design & Public Art Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations) (BPAFAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Event Design, Decor & Styling (HSACAAAB)

Keywords

• Experiential design services
• Public art installations
• Placemaking and wayfinding
• Branded experiential installations
• Permanent site furnishings

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project-based Design Services: Vignettes generates revenue through commissioned design and fabrication projects for public art installations, permanent infrastructure, experiential campaigns, and placemaking projects. Revenue is project-based with no recurring component.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Vignettes is an experience design studio that designs, fabricates, and installs public art, branded installations, permanent site infrastructure, and placemaking projects. Work is commissioned by municipalities, educational institutions, nonprofits, airports, and event organizers, and spans murals, large-scale letter installations, interactive sculptures, pavilions, site furniture collections, and destination/event activations across Western Canada.

Product overview

Vignettes is an experience design studio offering experiential installations, public art, and placemaking services. The company operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Their portfolio includes mural installations, permanent infrastructure (site furniture collections, pavilions, public art), branded installations (large-scale letter displays, interactive sculptures), placemaking projects (pop-up parks, experiential installations), and destination management services for major events. Projects range from permanent municipal infrastructure to temporary experiential activations, serving clients including municipal governments, educational institutions, airports, event organizers, and non-profit organizations across Western Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mural Installations Large-scale exterior and interior murals created for public and private spaces, featuring custom designs with integrated lighting elements and durable exterior finishes. Sold to municipalities, festivals, event organizers, and private sponsors seeking distinctive large-format visual landmarks.
• Mackenzie Collection (132 Ave Site Furnishings) A full suite of exterior site furnishings designed, supplied, and built using sustainably farmed and milled Douglas Fir, available for custom order by municipalities and neighborhoods for streetscape use.
• Helen Nolan Park Pavilion Permanent shade structure with perforated aluminum walls and a seasonal shade sail, designed for year-round park use including festivals, markets, and performances. Sold to municipal parks departments and public space operators.
• Avenue Collection (Old Strathcona Site Furniture) Custom site furniture collection for public infrastructure, developed through public engagement and expert consultation to reflect neighborhood character while ensuring functionality. Sold to business improvement areas and municipal clients.
• Urban Jungle (Experiential Pop-Up Installation) Playful experiential pop-up installation inviting users to relax, swing, and explore, designed to infuse play into urban settings at events, festivals, and community gatherings. Sold to event organizers, festivals, and municipalities.
• Spherescape (Art Overhead Installation) Immersive installation featuring vibrantly colored spheres suspended in the air at Robson Square Plaza, designed to evoke excitement, wonder, and connection. Sold to business improvement associations, event organizers, and downtown districts seeking overhead public art.
• Killarney Summer Park Temporary pop-up park featuring inclusive play elements including ping pong, seating, climbing installations, mini golf, planters, and a community mural, with QR codes for public feedback collection. Sold to municipalities and community associations.
• One University Interactive Sculpture

Quantifiable outcome

• Edmonton Illuminated sign: 32 feet long installation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Explore EdmontoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for destination management projects including the 52nd Annual JUNO Awards and Canadian Country Music Awards + Canadian Finals Rodeo installations.
• FKAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdmonton-based marketing agency collaborated on The Time Store project for Alberta Cancer Foundation, bringing experiential campaign expertise.
• Alberta Cancer FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated The Time Store pop-up installation to raise awareness and start conversations about cancer research funding.
• Downtown VanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit representing 8,000 businesses in Vancouver's downtown core. Partnered for Art Overhead Spherescape project at Robson Square Plaza (2024).
• Reimagine ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Edmonton Unlimited Innovation Gallery project with art, placemaking, and wayfinding strategy.
• Reimagine GatheringmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Reimagine Architects and Bob Robertson Visual Communication Design for Edmonton Unlimited's 18,000+ sq ft Innovation Gallery.
• Bob Robertson Visual Communication Design + ConsultingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of collaborative team for Edmonton Unlimited Innovation Gallery comprehensive wayfinding and design strategy.
• Old Strathcona Business AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration creating temporary and permanent site furnishings for the Old Strathcona neighborhood, progressing from seasonal installations to the Avenue Collection.
• Killarney Glengarry Community AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with City of Calgary on Killarney Summer Park temporary pop-up installation providing play and gathering opportunities.
• Edmonton International AirportmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated Big Ass Letters YEG installation serving as a bold welcome symbol and photo opportunity for travelers.
• University of AlbertamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree interactive sculptures created for North Campus, Campus Saint-Jean, and Augustana Campus to celebrate the One University brand strategy.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Optimist: Los Angeles-based experiential design agency building brand experiences, immersive installations, and large-scale events. Comparable creative scope to Vignettes' branded installations and event fabrication work.
• Jack Morton Worldwide: Global experiential brand experience agency producing large-scale events, activations, and installations for major brands and destinations. Highly comparable to Vignettes' event activation and destination management work, though operating at significantly greater scale.
• Local Projects: New York-based experience design studio working with cultural institutions, municipalities, and brands on permanent and temporary interactive installations. Directly comparable to Vignettes' museum-grade and civic placemaking portfolio.
• MKG: US experiential marketing agency producing brand experiences, events, and installations for consumer and cultural clients. Comparable on branded experiential campaigns and event activations, though primarily US-focused.
• George P. Johnson Experience Marketing: Global experiential marketing agency specializing in events, brand activations, and immersive environments for enterprise clients. Comparable on branded experiential campaigns and event fabrication, with broader geographic reach.
• Moment Factory: Montreal-based multimedia entertainment studio known for immersive public installations and placemaking projects worldwide. Closest large-scale creative peer to Vignettes' public art and experiential installations, with Montreal headquarters and global footprint.

Regional players

• BleuBlancRouge: Montreal-based creative agency producing integrated brand campaigns and experiential activations for Canadian brands. Comparable as a Canadian creative peer with experiential capabilities, though Quebec-anchored and broader brand-focused.
• Zulu Alpha Kilo: Toronto-based independent creative agency known for integrated campaigns, branded environments, and experiential work. Comparable Canadian creative agency competitor, though primarily commercial brand work rather than civic placemaking.

Broad incumbents

• Pattison Outdoor Advertising: Canada's largest outdoor advertising company with national infrastructure for large-format signage and installations. Comparable on large-scale civic and branded installations (e.g., 'Big Ass Letters' YEG), though operating as a media/infrastructure incumbent rather than a design studio.

Others

• Reimagine Architects: Edmonton-based architecture and design firm that has collaborated directly with Vignettes on Edmonton Unlimited's Innovation Gallery. Listed as a peer given overlapping civic and public-space design work in the same Alberta market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vignettestm
• Instagraminstagram.com/vignettestm
• Facebookfacebook.com/vignettesyeg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Vignettes