Tessellate is an exhibit and experience design company based in New York City with a foundation in innovative technology. We work with museums and institutions of all sizes to create environments that have proven to invite interaction and increase engagement. Our medium is the imaginative use of spatial design, visual design, technology, media, and storytelling.

Tessellate /ˈtesəˌlāt/ verb

To arrange or form a complex pattern in which each piece fits perfectly with no gaps, creating a cohesive whole. Tessellations often describe completely fitted forms found in art, architecture, and mathematics. To us, it’s a source of inspiration and beauty, with each unique shape equally valuable.

DESIGN Leadership

President / Co-Founder

Emily draws upon her expertise to create rich, meaningful experiences that educate and evoke. Her experiential design strategies facilitate engagement, inspire meaningful connections, and activate audiences for a wide array of project types. With over 20 years of expertise as a design manager, interaction designer, and activator of space, Emily oversees and manages the design of multiple design disciplines, including interaction, software, and content design. Recent projects include Project Lead for the National Women’s History Museum inaugural exhibit and the Tower of Faces Augmented Reality Experience at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Emily earned an MPS in Interactive Telecommunications from New York University and a BA in Studio Art and Earth Sciences from Earlham College.

Emily Conrad

Executive Creative Director / Co-Founder

Joe creates impactful experiences within the built environment. A highly experienced architect and exhibit designer, Joe has created immersive environments for over 25 years. His passion is exploring new ways of creating, communicating, and producing physical and digital designs that shape experiences. His design practice focuses on the complex interconnections between content, narratives, and spatial arrangements. His work spans many different project types, and he has won several awards and distinctions for his work on the AT&T GNOC, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, The Mobile Food Lab, and as a finalist for his design of the World Trade Center Memorial. Joe holds a B.Arch degree from Cornell University.

Joseph Karadin

Project Director

Jillian helps to keep projects on task and clients informed. She has nearly 20 years of experience as an exhibition, project, and production manager. Her passion for learning about different subjects and succinct communication style ensure that everyone knows their role in bringing designs into reality. Jillian has worked in both the design industry and in a variety of museum exhibition departments, including Holden Forests & Gardens, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Since joining Tessellate, she has worked on the National Women’s History Museum’s inaugural exhibition and others. Jillian holds a B.A. in Art History from Kent State University and an M.A. in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University.

Jillian Slane

Clients: Past and Present

Select Cultural & Academic Institutions

Health & Wellness

YO1 | Sparrow Hospital

Corporate & Business

Workplace Strategy

Balansett | Cushman Wakefield

Entertainment Centers

Scene75

Services Provided

Exhibit and Experience Design

Conceptual Design
Discovery & Planning
Narrative & Interpretive Design
Exhibit & Physical Design
Interior Design
3D Modeling and Rendering
Interaction Design
Visitor Experience
Software Design
Technical Approach and Strategy
Customer and Visitor Journeys
Fundraising Materials

Production & Installation

Prototyping & Testing
Production Management & Oversight
Installation Oversight
Augmented Reality AR and Mixed Reality Development
Content Management System Development

Tessellate is certified WBENC, WOSB, and WBE (NY, NYC)

ABOUT TESSELLATE