About Us

At Cortina, we believe that powerful media begins with the story. We work closely with our clients to ensure that their narratives and exhibit goals drive the creative process. Our process is iterative and transparent. Throughout design and production, we offer regular checkpoints, reviews, and user testing to ensure alignment with your goals and expectations. Our job is to translate your vision into dynamic, visually stunning experiences that captivate audiences and bring stories to life in ways that are immersive, inclusive, and unforgettable.

Our experience design is informed by your mission, shaped by audience engagement strategies, and inspired by the emotional and educational impact you want to achieve. We stay attuned to the latest trends in media, design, and visitor engagement to ensure each project is both relevant and resonant. Our team integrates media seamlessly into architectural and exhibit environments by partnering with exhibit designers, architects, AV integrators, and fabricators from concept through installation.

Our interactive experiences range from kiosks and multiuser touch tables to immersive theaters, gesture-based walls, mobile applications, and museum-wide personalization systems. Every installation is custom-designed to align with the specific goals of the exhibition and the needs of its audience. We specialize in creating personalized visitor journeys through recommender systems, AI integration, and machine learning tools. Our work also incorporates live data, real-time data capture, and take-home digital content—designed to extend the experience beyond the gallery and deepen visitor engagement at every touchpoint.

Our films range from classic single-screen presentations to immersive, multiscreen environments enhanced with 4D effects. Crafting compelling short films from complex historical events requires deep subject knowledge, strong research skills, creative motion design, and an understanding of emerging technologies that elevate storytelling. Our experienced team of producers specializes in accurate historical recreations, CGI, and the innovative use of archival footage and interviews. We focus not just on the facts, but on capturing the emotional core of a story—creating visually rich, emotionally resonant films that connect with contemporary audiences.

Our Mixed Reality experiences extend learning beyond the physical space, immersing visitors in dynamic, story-driven environments. From standing beside historical figures to exploring worlds or overlaying content on artifacts, we create interactive moments that deepen engagement and bring exhibitions to life.

Our mobile apps enhance the visitor experience by making a wide range of educational content accessible—including audio and video tours, multilingual support, ADA-compliant tours, and engaging experiences designed for children. Behind the scenes, the true power lies in the content management system (CMS) that drives the app. This intuitive system allows you to easily update and manage content in real time, ensuring your app stays fresh, relevant, and responsive to daily needs.

Our custom-built content management system (CMS) empowers museum staff to efficiently manage and update digital interactives—no technical background required. Accessible through a secure, browser-based interface, the CMS enables administrators to modify text, media, and visitor-facing content in real time from within the exhibit network. The system also includes our integrated software distribution platform, application manager, and robust analytics suite—providing streamlined deployment, centralized control, and actionable insights into system performance and visitor engagement.

We collaborate with leading consultants to apply best practices that ensure inclusive, meaningful experiences for all visitors. Our design process follows established accessibility guidelines for reach ranges, text readability, color contrast, open captions, and plain language. We have deep experience implementing screen reader-compatible keypads, descriptive audio, and multilingual content. This ongoing commitment allows us to deliver engaging, equitable media experiences for audiences of all abilities.

2021 – SEMC Exhibition Competition, Gold
Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience

2019 – MUSE Award
“Facial Recognition Personalization Software”
National Soccer Hall of Fame
Gold, Research and Innovation

2019 – MUSE Award
“Laugh Battle” National Comedy Center
Merit, Onsite Digital Experience

2019 – THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement
“Be Washington: It’s Your Turn to Lead”
George Washington’s Mount Vernon

2018 – SEMC Technology Competition, Gold
“Be Washington: It’s Your Turn to Lead”
George Washington’s Mount Vernon

2018 – Science Media Awards – Interactive: “Fisheries Collapse” – Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

2018 – CINE Golden Eagle Award: “Liberty Fever” – American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

2018 – THEA Award – Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

2017 – Communication Arts Interactive Competition – “Follow the Green Book” – Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture / Environmental

2017 – THEA Award – Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

2017 – SEMC Technology Competition – Gold: “Personal Stories of the Revolution” – American Revolution Museum at Yorktown / Gallery Installations

2017 – SEMC Technology Competition – Silver: “Cultural Commons 360° Film” – Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture / Media Production

2017 – SEMC Technology Competition – Bronze: “Turret Theater” – North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island / Media Production

2017 – SEGD Global Design Award – Merit: “The Segregated Lunch Counter and Panorama of the Civil Rights Movement” – Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture / Interactive Experience

2017 – MUSE Award – Gold: “Liberty Fever” – American Revolution Museum at Yorktown / Video, Film, & Computer Animation

2017 – MUSE Award – Gold: “Follow the Green Book” – Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture / Interactive Kiosk

2017 – MUSE Award – Bronze: “Pacific Visions Promo” – Aquarium of the Pacific / Public Outreach

2017 – MUSE Award – Honorable Mention: “Nixon” – Richard Nixon Presidential Library / Video, Film, & Computer Animation

2017 – CINE Golden Eagle Award – Finalist: “Turret Theater” – North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island

2016 – CINE Golden Eagle Award – Finalist: “49ers Forever” – San Francisco 49ers Museum

2015 – MUSE Award – Gold: “Responsibility Theater” – Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum / Interactive Kiosks

2015 – MUSE Award – Bronze: “All Access Pass” – College Football Hall of Fame / Interpretive Interactive Installations

2014 – MUSE Award – Silver: “A Queer History of Fashion” – Museum at FIT / Digital Communities

2012 – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “Driving America Signature Film” – Henry Ford Museum

2012  – THEA Award – Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame

2011 – MUSE Award – Bronze: “GuideCamTM” – Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum / Audio Tours and Podcasts

2011 – MUSE Award – Gold: “Fire Combustion” – Museum of Science and Industry / Interpretive Interactive Installation

2011 – CINE Special Jury Award – “Fantastic Journey” – Museum of Science and Industry

2010 – THEA Award – Science Storms – Museum of Science and Industry

2010 – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “Tornado” – Museum of Science and Industry

2010  – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “Signature Film” – Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame

2010  – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “Fantastic Journey” – Museum of Science and Industry

2010 – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “Introductory Film” – Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum

2010  – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “Dugout Theater Film” – Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame

2010 – MUSE Award – Bronze: “Waging Peace, Fighting Disease, and Building Hope” Interactive Table – Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum / Interpretive Interactive Installations

2009 – THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement – America I Am: The African American Imprint – Traveling Exhibition

2009 – THEA Award – The Museum at Bethel Woods

2009 – MUSE Award – Gold: “Pylons” – Hall at Patriots Place / Multimedia Installations

2009 – Webby Award Nominee – “State of Deception” – United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

2008 – THEA Award – Newseum

2008 – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “What’s News?” – Newseum

2008 – MUSE Award – Silver: “Carmel Church Bone Bed” – Virginia Museum of Natural History / Interactive Kiosks

2008 – MUSE Award – Bronze: “The Woodstock Festival Experience” – Bethel Woods Museum / Multimedia Installations

2007 – MUSE Award – Gold: “Little Boy and the Seven Grandfathers” – Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian / Video

2007 – MUSE Award – Bronze: “The Greatest” – Muhammad Ali Center / Video

2007 – MUSE Award – Bronze: “Blue Planet Theater” – Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center / Multimedia Installation

2007 – THEA Award – “Real-Cost Café” – Monterey Bay Aquarium

2006 – MUSE Award – Silver: “Tidepool Olympics” – Monterey Bay Aquarium / Science

2006 – MUSE Award – Honorable Mention: “Real-Cost Cafe” Monterey Bay Aquarium / Science

2006 – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “If You Can Dream” – Muhammad Ali Center

2006 – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “The Greatest” – Muhammad Ali Center

2005  – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “Little Boy and the Seven Grandfathers” – Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

2005 – MUSE Award – Silver: “Whales: Voices in the Sea” – Aquarium of the Pacific / Science

2003 – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “First Life” – Museum 3-D Animation

2003 – CINE Golden Eagle Award – “Ultimate Guide: Pregnancy” – Television Special

2003 – MUSE Award – Bronze: “Make the Call” – Indiana State Museum / Science

2002 – MUSE Award – Gold: “WAR Stories” Videowall – Newseum / Science

2001 – New York Festival Gold Winner – “WAR Stories” Best Multi-image Presentation

2000  – CINE Golden Eagle – “Holocaust: The Untold Story”

2000 – International Monitor Award – “Holocaust: The Untold Story” – Best Documentary

1999 – Monitor Award – “1968: The Year That Changed America” Special Effects

1998 – Best of Show – “What’s News” Columbus Film Festival

1998 – Monitor Award – “What’s News” – Outstanding Achievement

1996 – EMMY Award – “The Centennial Olympics Games” – Live Special

1993 – Educational Press Award – “Learning for a Lifetime”

1992 – EMMY Award – Games of the XXV Olympiad – Graphic Design

1992 – EMMY Award – Games of the XXV Olympiad – Edited Special

1992 – Silver Medal – Broadcast Designers’ Association for Olympic Graphics

1991 – EMMY Award – Tokyo World Championship of Track and Field – Graphic Design

1991 – EMMY Award – Tokyo World Championship of Track and Field – Opens