The Studio

Studio ESEM is the creative agency you come to when you want to bring a story of place-based transformation to life. To do engagement a bit differently. To bring audiences into the story. To connect not just minds, but senses, and hearts. To champion and inspire real change.

We are purpose-led and committed to achieving positive impact. Our methods are designed to cultivate creative and connected communities, which we believe are critical to the creation of more sustainable and resilient communities for the twenty-first century.

Fusing technology, creativity, storytelling and design, we draw on multiple strands of expertise to design and build public programs that delight, engage and transform curious minds. Informed by deep expertise in strategy, data and digital engagement, our public programs are underpinned by strong data and evaluation methods, and supported by top class technical delivery teams. We also build products, and launch brands for organisations and collectives whose values we share.

Interested in collaborating with us? Reach out to start a conversation.

Sarah Barns and Michael Killalea in 2023

We started collaborating for fun in 2013 and couldn’t stop. Sarah and Michael in 2024.

Service Domains

  • We work with partners and clients to craft meaningful and impactful storytelling programs for impact. From here, we decide on the format and approach, whether experiential, video, online or offline.

    In a world flooded with data and information, the value of effective storytelling, engaging both the heart and the head, can’t be under-estimated.

    We believe understanding and measuring impact is vital. We work with our partners to align storytelling strategy with impact for the benefit of our purpose-driven partners and clinets.

  • We’re experienced in the delivery of cross-platform public art installations that create multi-sensory spaces for community gathering, activations and creative learning.

    This work engages our skills in projection and lighting design, immersive media and community engagement.

    We love creating immersive spaces and experiences that connect diverse disciplines, technologies, creative practices to invite wonder and curiosity towards our magical, fragile, and always-changing world.

    Example projects: Superorganism: Listening to the AnthropoceneSTORYBOX Places, and more

  • We design and deliver digital heritage & interpretation programs that enliven connections to the history of a place. 

    We're a research-led practice, drawing on many years' experience working across content creation and strategy, public history, interpretation design, public engagement and storytelling.

    We take on ambitious research briefs, and design interpretation and storytelling programs that allow complex ideas to connect with audiences in new ways.

    We also collaborate widely to share stories about people and place, working with First Nations storytellers, schools, community groups, local arts and heritage groups and local councils

  • The team deliver audio-visual services across technical design and delivery as well as technical strategy to maximise the value and impact of experiential installations in outdoor environments.

    Our in-house infrastructure supports digital projections, sound installations, custom immersive displays and more. All our technical solutions are designed to be robust and resilient to withstand harsh Australian environments, from heat to storms and everything in between.

    We also offer technical design services to clients seeking advice on audio-visual requirements for temporary or permanent displays and installations.

    Clients include Sydney Metro, Museums of History, Bathurst Regional Council, the Australian Museum and more.

  • The team deliver art production services across museums and galleries, retail, hospitality and events. We work across large scale prints and public murals, permanent and temporary video displays and more.

    Co-Director Michael Killalea occasionally draws on his past life as director of boutique design firm killanoodle to support new brands and communications services.

Above: Our strategic approach to storytelling and public engagement integrates multiple strands of expertise and delivery.

The Story
So Far

As ESEM Projects between 2013-2024, Sarah and Michael spent over ten years collaborating with communities, artists, technical designers and cultural partners to expand the potentials of digital storytelling for placemaking and urban transformation projects. 

Learn more about where we’ve come from, and our vision for the future of Studio ESEM.

Clients & Partners

  • Barangaroo Delivery Authority

    CBRE Group

    GML Heritage

    GPT Group

    Hassell

    Lendlease

    Mirvac

    TKD Architects

    Paul Kelly Design

  • Art Centre of Christchurch

    Australian Museum

    Australian National Maritime Museum

    National Gallery of Australia

    State Library of NSW

    Sydney Living Museum

  • Bathurst Regional Council

    City of Sydney

    Clarence Valley Council

    Inner West Council

    Liverpool City Council

    Newcastle City Council

    Port Macquarie-Hastings Council

  • Australian National University

    RMIT University

    University of New South Wales

    Western Sydney University

  • Arts SA

    CSIRO

    Data 61

    Enterprise Connect

    Government Architect NSW

    Transport for NSW

Awards

The Team

DR. SARAH BARNS
CO-FOUNDER & INSIGHTS DIRECTOR
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MICHAEL KILLALEA
CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
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LEIF WILSON
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
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GIGI FONG
STRATEGIC DESIGNER
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Sarah Barns headshot

Michael is a multi-media artist and designer who works across a range of mediums spanning video art, painting, print and magazine design, illustration, art production, digital and experiential design. Michael leads Studio ESEM’s production and installation teams.

Sarah is a strategist, writer, researcher and consultant working at the intersection of technology futures, regenerative urbanism and culture. Sarah is also currently a research fellow at RMIT’s Centre for Urban Research.

Gigi is an emerging Strategic Designer with multi-disciplinary training across spatial, experiential & digital design. Gigi is devoted to designing for impact and dedicates her career to focusing on the intersection between design practices and social innovation.

Leif is an experienced on-site production manager who leads all ESEM’s outdoor installations and programs. Leif and his team have successfully delivered over 40 complex public programs for ESEM spanning large scale projections, temporary and touring event programs.

Our Collaborators

Photography and Videography: We work with a network of diverse creative practitioners to support our programs.

First Nations Creative Collaborators: Travis de Vries (Awesome Black), Brendan Blacklock (Blacklock Media)

Video Editor: Jessie Hildebrand

Sound Production & Composition: Pete Hird, Nigel Cruikshank

Photography: Past and present collaborators include TOBIAS ROWLES (Sam I Am Management), ROY WEILAND, DAVID ARNOLD, ALAN RICHARDSON, WADED

Creative Producers: Omee Deling, Victoria Johnstone, James Schultz

Do you have a passion for curatorial and community-focused programs that elevate shared stories that inspire and connect people to places? Let us know!