PERMEABLE

What PERMEABLE does

Perméable is a Marseille-based design studio founded in 2003 by Sylvain Hourany that provides integrated UX/UI design, visual identity, digital strategy consulting, web accessibility auditing under RGAA, and eco-conception services. The studio operates as a single-discipline consultancy serving French public institutions, cultural landmarks, private enterprises, and non-profit foundations across verticals that include national libraries, museums, performing arts festivals, metropolitan governments, and industrial firms. Named clients include the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Centre des Monuments Nationaux, Mucem, Métropole Toulon Provence Méditerranée, Ville de Toulon, Département de la Haute-Savoie, Festival d'Avignon, Bergerat Monnoyeur (European Caterpillar distributor), Steco, Rizom UV, AUP Architectes, La Plateforme_, Fondation Inria, and Institut Français du Maroc.

The studio's core offerings comprise nine integrated service lines: UX design, UI design, digital strategy consulting, visual identity and communication tools, digital accessibility, SEO, eco-conception, project management, and website creation. The technology stack relies on standard web technologies — HTML5, CSS, SVG, JavaScript, and ARIA for accessibility — with content management systems including WordPress and Drupal; the studio follows the EcoIndex and GreenIT frameworks for sustainability and the RGAA referential for French accessibility compliance. Perméable's own website has achieved EcoIndex Silver level (over 56% of criteria validated) and 96% RGAA version 4.0 criteria compliance. The agency holds the Label Envol (NF X30-205, audited by Bureau Veritas), and founder Sylvain Hourany obtained Green IT Éco-concepteur certification in 2023, while Juliette Huc holds GreenIT état de l'art certification.

Perméable operates as a sole proprietorship (Permeable – Sylvain Hourany, affiliated with Maison des Artistes) with 1-10 employees, generating revenue exclusively through bespoke, project-based consulting engagements priced per scope following a free 30-minute Zoom discovery call. Pricing is quote-based with no publicly disclosed tiers; projects span multi-month to multi-year engagements delivered from conception through final handover. The go-to-market motion is direct, high-touch engagement: clients are served through direct studio contact, and select engagements extend to Switzerland (Fondation Âge d'Or, Geneva), Morocco (Institut Français du Maroc), and Monaco (Océano museum). The studio uses its own portfolio website, SEO-optimized educational blog content, and LinkedIn for top-of-funnel demand generation, while case studies of public-sector projects serve as primary credibility signals.

Name

PERMEABLE

Legal name

Permeable – Sylvain Hourany

Website

https://permeable.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Marseille-based design studio founded in 2003 providing integrated UX/UI design, visual identity, digital strategy, web accessibility (RGAA), and eco-conception services to French public institutions, cultural organizations, and private enterprises across France and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Design Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430), Specialized Design Services (5414), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAKAK

Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Architecture, Design & Planning Services

Keywords

• UX design services
• Visual identity design
• Digital strategy consulting
• Website redesign services
• Eco-conception web design

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Project-based consulting and design services: Permeable generates revenue through bespoke consulting and design projects for private companies, public institutions, and cultural organizations. Projects are scoped individually and delivered from conception to final handover. Each engagement is priced based on project complexity, scope, and duration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Permeable is a Marseille-based design and consulting studio that delivers bespoke UX/UI design, visual identity creation, digital strategy consulting, eco-conception, digital accessibility (RGAA compliance), SEO, project management, and custom website design for enterprises, public institutions, cultural organizations, and local authorities. Each project is individually scoped and delivered from conception through final handover, with a methodology integrating strategy, design, accessibility, and environmental sustainability. The studio has delivered 200+ projects across France and selectively in Europe and North Africa since 2003.

Product overview

Permeable is a Marseille-based consulting and design studio founded in 2003 by Sylvain Hourany, offering a comprehensive suite of digital design and communication services. The studio operates as a unified service offering rather than a software product platform. Its core offerings include UX/UI design, digital strategy consulting, visual identity creation, web accessibility services, SEO, eco-design, and project management. The studio works across diverse sectors including enterprises, cultural institutions, public authorities, and government entities, delivering over 200 projects including website redesigns, brand identities, graphic systems, and digital transformation strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• User Experience Design (UX Design) User experience design service focused on optimizing website and application navigation, content architecture, and user journey mapping to create intuitive digital interfaces. Includes user research, personas, experience maps, wireframes, prototypes, and usability testing using a mobile-first methodology.
• Digital Strategy Consulting Digital strategy consulting including audits, service strategy, and digital transformation advisory for organizations seeking to improve their online presence. Supports decisions on digital ecosystem redesign and B2C conversion improvement.
• Visual Identity and Communication Tools Visual identity creation including logotype design, graphic charters, and comprehensive communication tools for brand development and expression. Includes graphic system design and 360° communication toolkits.
• User Interface Design (UI Design) User interface design service creating visually appealing and consistent digital interfaces with attention to buttons, menus, typography, colors, and interactive graphical elements.
• Digital Accessibility (RGAA Compliance) Digital accessibility services ensuring websites comply with French RGAA (Référentiel Général d'Amélioration de l'Accessibilité) standards, making interfaces accessible to all users including those with disabilities. Includes accessibility audits and remediation.
• SEO and Geo-Referencing Search engine optimization and geolocation SEO services to strengthen online visibility and improve organic search rankings.
• Web Eco-Conception (Sustainable Web Design) Sustainable web design service focused on limiting the environmental impact of websites through optimized code, lightweight pages, optimized media, green hosting, and mobile-first design choices. Follows EcoIndex, GreenIT, and RGESN referentials.
• Project Management for Communication Projects Project management service for communication projects, ensuring successful delivery through structured methodology, regular checkpoints, and client collaboration from conception to final handover.
• Custom Website Design and Development Website design and development service creating custom digital experiences including e-commerce sites, institutional websites, and portfolio sites, built using HTML5, CSS, SVG, JavaScript, ARIA, and CMS platforms such as WordPress and Drupal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Website visitors duration increased by +54%, actions per visit increased by +22%, bounce rate decreased by -20% for TPM project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CodableminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Codable served as the development partner for the Fondation One Science Montpellier website redesign project, handling the technical development while Permeable managed strategy, UX, and design.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DDB: Omnicom-owned global creative network with French offices, offering brand strategy, advertising, and digital design. Comparable as a longstanding global creative incumbent with French-market clients including institutional accounts, though DDB's emphasis is broader advertising and campaign work rather than pure UX consulting.
• Digitas: Publicis-owned global digital marketing and experience agency offering strategy, creative, UX, and content for brand and performance clients. Comparable in digital experience design for large brands, including public-sector-adjacent work, though at significantly larger scale and a broader channel mix.
• IDEO: Global design consultancy recognized for pioneering human-centered design, UX research, and digital product design across sectors including public services and cultural institutions. Comparable to Permeable in its UX-led, research-driven methodology applied to cultural and institutional clients, though at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Serviceplan Group: Europe's largest independent creative agency group with a French presence, offering integrated brand, digital, and UX work for institutional and consumer clients. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary design and digital player operating in France, though at substantially larger scale and with broader geographic footprint.
• frog design: Global design and innovation consultancy (now part of Capgemini Engineering) specializing in digital product design, UX, and transformation for enterprise and public-sector clients. Comparable in its UX/research methodology and accessibility-aware design practice, but at much larger scale and with integrated engineering capabilities.
• Pentagram: Global design partnership with offices worldwide, offering brand identity, digital design, and editorial work for cultural, institutional, and public-facing clients. Comparable to Permeable in its design-led approach to identity and digital experience for institutional/cultural clients; Pentagram operates at a fundamentally different scale and partnership model.
• Publicis Sapient: Global digital transformation consultancy combining strategy, design, and engineering for large enterprises and government clients. Comparable in delivering digital strategy, UX/UI design, and accessibility-focused engagements for institutional clients, though as part of a much broader transformation offering.
• BETC: Havas-owned Parisian creative agency with a strong track record in brand strategy, campaigns, and design for major French and global brands including cultural and public-sector clients. Comparable as a French-headquartered creative/design incumbent, though BETC's scope spans advertising rather than pure UX/UI consulting.
• Wunderman Thompson: WPP-owned global creative, technology, and commerce agency with strong European presence. Comparable in offering integrated digital design and customer experience work for large brands, though operating at much greater scale and with broader technology and commerce capabilities than a boutique UX/UI studio.
• Dragon Rouge: Paris-headquartered branding and design agency serving large consumer, cultural, and public-sector clients across brand identity, packaging, and digital. Comparable to Permeable in serving French institutional and cultural accounts but operating at significantly greater scale across a wider service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/permeable

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 PERMEABLE