Who we are

Academy Studios designs and creates exhibits that bring to visitors a sense of wonder and awe, inspiring intellectual and emotional connections. We believe in conveying complex subjects through stories and experiences that capture the visitor's imagination and spark the quest for new knowledge. Having completed over 160 projects worldwide, including science, natural history and art museums, zoos, aquariums and visitor centers, Academy Studios has built a reputation for excellence and innovation within the field.

We are artists, designers, woodworkers, sculptors, painters, writers, model-makers, photographers and graphic designers. We are also explorers, mountain climbers, sailors, biologists, anthropologists, singers, dog trainers and inventors. The diverse perspectives of our staff, combined with our extensive experience with clients from many disciplines, cultivates an approach to exhibition planning and design that offers a fresh viewpoint and world-class visitor experiences.

In short: we create dynamic learning experiences that transform people's lives.

Dean Weldon/ President & CEO: With over 30 years as a museum professional, Dean's vision is to provide distinctive, high quality exhibition design and fabrication services. As a designer and sculptor, he takes an active role in each project and monitors the quality of all finished products. He has a wealth of knowledge about educational experiences, and he looks for projects that keep us working on the edge of our abilities. Collaborating with artists, designers, curators, educators, architects and other professionals, his ability to lead and participate in creative teams has produced an impressive body of work that embodies the paradigm shift from exhibits to experiences to visitor-authored content in educational spaces.
Victoria Prizzia/ Director, Academy Studios East: Victoria's varied experiences provide her with a broad understanding of the museum exhibition planning and design field. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for the past ten years in a variety of areas - grant writing, master planning, oral history collection, content production and exhibition planning and design. Victoria holds a degree in Journalism and Photography, a Master's degree in Education/Critical and Creative Thinking and a Master's degree in Museum Exhibition Planning and Design.