What LOCOMOTION does

LOCOMOTION is a Paris-based signage consultancy founded in 2008 by Laurence Guichard, operating as a maître d'œuvre (master contractor) for signage projects on complex built environments. The firm provides end-to-end services spanning flow and behavioral analysis, accessibility compliance under French disability law (Loi handicap), signage program development (programme signalétique), supplier selection and bid analysis, and on-site construction supervision. Its methodology combines flux analysis, behavioral knowledge, and accessibility expertise to convert complex circulation patterns into intuitive, universally accessible navigation pathways.

The company's client base spans museums and cultural venues (MUCEM, Hôtel de la Marine, Fondation Cartier, Aga Khan Museum Toronto, Jardin des Plantes), healthcare networks (APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière, Cannes, Belfort), universities (Sciences Po, AgroParisTech, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, IMT), corporate headquarters (Orange, Danone, Technip, Sanofi, VINCI, RTE, BNP Real Estate), government institutions (Le Sénat, Ministère de la Défense, Services du Premier Ministre), sports venues (Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Adidas Aréna, INSEP), and hospitality projects. It works embedded within the project teams of elite architectural firms including Marc Mimram, Dominique Perrault Architecture, AIA, SCAU, Kengo Kuma, Snøhetta, Shigeru Ban, Grafton Architects, and Studio Gang.

The firm generates revenue through professional-services fees on custom-engagement projects and relies on referral-driven enterprise field sales, supplemented by press coverage in design and architecture publications. The 1-10-person team operates without disclosed external funding, operating geographies concentrated in France with episodic international engagements.

Name

LOCOMOTION

Legal name

LOCOMOTION SAS

Website

https://locomotion.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LOCOMOTION is a Paris-based signage consultancy founded in 2008 that designs wayfinding strategies and signage programs for complex built environments, serving museums, hospitals, universities, corporate headquarters, and government institutions across France and selectively internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services - Signage Consultancy: Locomotion generates revenue through consultancy fees for signage strategy development, program writing, supplier selection, and construction supervision services. As a maître d'œuvre (master contractor), they are engaged throughout the project lifecycle for institutional and architectural clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LOCOMOTION is a signage agency that acts as a maître d'œuvre (master contractor) for signage projects in complex built environments. The agency provides end-to-end consultancy services covering flow analysis, behavioral study, accessibility compliance with French disability law (Loi handicap), signage program development (programme signalétique), information hierarchy design, supplier selection, and construction site supervision. Their work spans museums, hospitals, universities, corporate headquarters, hotels, sports venues, and government buildings.

Product overview

LOCOMOTION is a specialized signage agency (agence de signalétique) founded in 2008, providing a comprehensive range of consulting and advisory services rather than software products. The agency offers integrated services including flow analysis, signage strategy, orientation programming, master planning, and signage content development for built environments. Their core offering encompasses the entire project lifecycle: from initial analysis and program development through to contractor selection and construction monitoring. The agency works across diverse sectors including museums, hospitals, university campuses, corporate headquarters, hotels, and shopping centers, collaborating with architects, graphic designers, and museographers to deliver complete signage solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Signage & Wayfinding Consultancy Services (Signalétique et Orientation)

Quantifiable outcome

• Transformed complex flow concepts into intuitive navigation pathways for diverse built environments
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers53 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Atelier Bastien MorinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner graphic design studio collaborating on signage projects
• Building ParisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner graphic design studio for signage projects
• deValenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner graphic design studio for signage design collaboration
• Michel BouvetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned graphic designer partner for signage projects
• Ich & karminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner graphic design studio
• Dominique Perrault ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious architectural firm that counts Locomotion among its maître d'œuvre team for signage
• Marc MimramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading architectural firm that includes Locomotion in its maîtrise d'œuvre team for major projects
• AIA ArchitectescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor French architectural firm partnered with Locomotion on signage projects
• SCAU architecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent architectural firm that works with Locomotion on signage as part of project teams
• Kengo Kuma et associéscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally renowned Japanese architectural firm that collaborated with Locomotion on Hôtel de la Pointe du Bout project
• SnohettacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally recognized Norwegian architectural firm partnered on projects
• Shigeru Ban ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPritzker Prize-winning architectural firm partnered on projects
• Wilmotte et Associés SAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading French architectural firm with collaborative relationship
• Studio GangcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternationally recognized American architectural firm partnered on projects
• Grafton Architects (Dublin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPritzker Prize-winning Irish architectural firm partnered on projects
• 2x4 NYCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York-based design studio partner for signage projects
• Studio Adrien GardèreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned designer studio for museum and cultural space design
• Patrick NorguetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent French designer partner for signage projects
• Adeline RispalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner muséographe for museum exhibition design
• Atelier FCSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuséographie studio partner for exhibition and signage projects

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Global architecture and design firm with a sizable workplace, healthcare, and experience design practice that includes wayfinding and signage capability. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose in-house signage teams increasingly compete with specialist consultancies like Locomotion for large institutional projects.
• Pentagram: Largest independent global design consultancy, with partner-led environmental graphic design and wayfinding practices serving cultural, transport, and institutional clients. Comparable as a broader design incumbent whose partner studios occasionally take on the same signage and wayfinding work that Locomotion performs at a more specialist level.

Direct peers

• dotdash: UK-based signage and wayfinding consultancy (now part of WPP's Design Bridge portfolio) with healthcare, education, and cultural sector clients. Comparable as a specialized signage consultancy operating in a similar boutique model focused on complex public and institutional projects.
• Selbert Perkins Design: US-based signage and environmental graphic design firm with a strong portfolio in healthcare, corporate, transportation, and entertainment. Comparable as a specialist signage consultancy with multi-vertical expertise and end-to-end project delivery.
• Mayer/Reed: Portland, Oregon-based environmental graphic design firm specializing in wayfinding, signage, and branded environments for transit, civic, cultural, and healthcare clients. Directly comparable as a boutique signage/wayfinding consultancy with similar vertical mix and methodology-led engagements.
• Mijksenaar: Amsterdam-based wayfinding design firm founded by Bureau Mijksenaar's successor practice, internationally renowned for signage systems in airports, museums, and hospitals. Comparable as a specialized wayfinding consultancy with deep experience in accessibility-led, large-complex built environments — a global reference standard in Locomotion's niche.
• Entro Communications: Toronto-based specialized signage and wayfinding consultancy serving cultural, healthcare, corporate, and transportation clients globally. Highly comparable as a boutique wayfinding firm with a similar maître d'œuvre-style service offering and accessibility expertise — and notably relevant given Locomotion's Aga Khan Museum reference in Toronto.
• City ID: UK-based wayfinding and information design consultancy working on pedestrian navigation, transit, cultural, and healthcare projects. Directly comparable to Locomotion as a specialist wayfinding consultancy with public-sector and institutional client focus and a methodology-driven service model.
• Two Twelve (Two Twelve Design): New York-based wayfinding and signage design consultancy with a strong portfolio in transit, healthcare, cultural, and commercial environments. Comparable as a specialist wayfinding firm offering strategy, programming, and implementation oversight for complex built environments.
• Calori & Vanden-Eynden (C/V/E Design): US-based signage and wayfinding design consultancy with deep experience in healthcare, university, museum, and corporate environments. Comparable as a specialized signage design firm offering programming, design, and implementation oversight — overlapping closely with Locomotion's healthcare and education portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/LOCOMOTION
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/locomotionfrance

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 LOCOMOTION