About us
We are an experienced and ambitious design studio specialized in creating captivating story-driven spatial experiences.
Based in Amsterdam, our international team consists of designers, content developers, producers, and supportive staff. We are a purpose-driven team, committed to telling urgent and relevant stories—whether historical, scientific, social, or commercial—and transforming them into stories that matter.
Spatial stories
Spatial stories can make for a truly transformative experience. They inspire exploration, ignite wonder, and nurture critical thinking. In an increasingly complex and noisy world, it’s an oasis of focus and nuance. They celebrate diversity, embracing individual human, or even non-human perspectives to tell universal stories that each of us can relate.
Serious play
Content can be challenging. It can be complex, sensitive, or even contested. Whatever the case, we make it accessible, memorable, and shareable by transforming it into a spatial story. And we always sprinkle in a pinch of playfulness to balance the seriousness.
Why and how
We believe in the unique power of this storytelling medium. We want to use that power for the better of society, by telling stories that matter. Stories that are urgent and relevant for the direct community of where the spatial stories are told, as well as for society at large.
Sustainability
Sustainability is about more than choosing the right materials. It’s woven into everything we do: our daily practices, the stories we help tell, and the way we design. Our goal is to maximise positive impact by raising awareness and inspiring change, while minimising our footprint on the planet.
This is what we do
Strategy
- Master planning
- Strategic consultancy
- Concept and visualisations
- Content strategy
- Cost estimations
- Fundraising consultancy
- Evaluation and impact assessment
Design
- Art/Creative direction
- Spatial design
- Graphic design
- Content development
- Wayfinding
- Catalogues and publicity
Production
- Art/Creative direction
- Production supervision
- Script writing and storyboarding
- Media direction
- Graphic design / DTP
- Project management
- Contract management
Founded by Herman Kossmann and Mark de Jong in 1995, we have over 30 years of experience in the field.
News
Keerzijde now open!
A new thematic space has opened at the National Military Museum: 𝘒𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘻𝘪𝘫𝘥𝘦 (the other side). Ten years after designing the museum’s permanent exhibition, we were honoured to return for this meaningful commission.
🏅We won GOLD and Best of Discilpine!
We’re beyond proud to share that 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 at the Stapferhaus has been awarded Gold in the Exhibition Design category, and was named Best of Discipline in the Architecture / Interior / Environmental Design category at the ADC Awards by The One Club for Creativity.
Thank you to the ADC jury for recognizing our work.
Learn about biodiversity at ARTIS!
What is biodiversity, really? Many adults struggle to answer that question. That’s why ARTIS asked us to create five playful installations for young children, each exploring the meaning of biodiversity in a hands-on way.
Fun, tactile, and curious, these small puzzles make a big topic accessible for little hands. And finally, for their parents too.
Communication the Arts Conference
What happens when an exhibition moves visitors to tears? At CTA Amsterdam 2025, Femke Bijlsma (Kossmanndejong) and wolfgang schreiner (Nous Digital) took the audience behind the scenes of our recent collaboration on The War Rooms at The Story of Emily (UK).
In this session, Femke and Wolfgang explored the potential and limits of immersive design, and reflect on how to balance impact with responsibility when designing for emotion.
🏅Double win!
Two of our projects have been honored with an International Design Award: 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 at Stapferhaus and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘢𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 at The Story of Emily.
Both exhibitions shine a light on vital themes. Stories about empathy, courage, and what it means to care for others, and our world. We’re proud to see these stories recognized. Thank you to the International Design Awards, and all our incredible partners.
🎥 It’s here!
A trailer for 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 at Wereldmuseum Amsterdam.
Opened in 2022, the exhibition explores how colonial inheritance continues to shape our daily lives, from our economy and language to beliefs and habits. Now, we can share a glimpse of the spatial story we’ve built around that impact. Video brings together space, sound, and story in a way that feels tangible.
Clients
We work with global brands, institutes, NGO's and museums to translate their stories into spatial experiences with impact.
Our publications
Herman Kossmann, Suzanne Mulder, Frank den Oudsten
In Narrative Spaces, the field is approached form three angles: theoretical-philosophical, from daily design practice, and cultural-historical. It is intended not only for designers but also for curators and critics, for people from the world of theater and architecture, in short, for anyone interested in the expressiveness of space. The book reveals the dramaturgical and scenographic principles of exhibition as a narrative space and provides inspiration for a new approach to exhibition design.
Engaging Spaces
Kossmanndejong e.a.
Creating a good exhibition is about telling a multidimensional and interactive story with a balanced and wide range of media. The challenge is to translate complex and scientific information into a narrative environment that appeals to a wide audience. Engaging Spaces focuses on 30 narrative spaces desigend by Kossmanndejong, including the Urbanian Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.