Second Story Interactive Studios
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Interactive media |
| Predecessor | Brad Johnson Presents |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Brad Johnson, Julie Beeler |
| Fate | Acquired by SapientNitro in 2012; integrated into Publicis group in 2015 |
| Headquarters | Portland , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Interactive narratives and media |
| Parent | Publicis (since 2015) |
Second Story operates as an interactive media firm with creative hubs located in Portland, Atlanta, and New York City. Founded by Brad Johnson and Julie Beeler, the company originated from Brad Johnson Presents, which was launched in 1994 in Berkeley, California. Its core expertise lies in crafting interactive narratives.
In 2012, SapientNitro acquired Second Story, and after Sapient's subsequent purchase by [Publicis] in 2015, the company became integrated into the Publicis group.
Notable projects
Among its significant undertakings are the Ford Alumni Center at the University of Oregon, The Vault of the Secret Formula exhibit at the World of Coca-Cola, and multimedia elements for the Age of Mammals exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The organization has also created interactive displays and websites for institutions such as the National Archives, Gettysburg National Military Park’s museum, the Library of Congress, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, National Geographic, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and The Grammy Museum.
Awards
Since its inception in 1994, Second Story has garnered a wide array of accolades, including two Best of Show honors from HOW magazine's Interactive Design Awards: one in 2009 for its work on the visitor experience at the Library of Congress and another in 2011 for the Design Your Own Ballpark kiosk at the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.
The studio was shortlisted for a 2004 National Design Award in Communications Design. Additionally, its project for the University of Oregon received an award at the 2012 Interaction Design Association (IxDA) Awards.
Further distinctions include recognition from I.D. Annual Review, AIGA 365, Communication Arts Interactive Design Annual, Print Magazine’s Digital Design Annual, One Show Interactive, and multiple honors from the Art Directors Awards (including two Gold awards). In the museum domain, Second Story has been honored by the American Association of Museums across various Muse Award categories and has won nine Best of the Web Awards at the annual Museums and the Web conference. Its digital projects have also earned accolades at events such as SXSW, the Sundance Film Festival, and the Webby Awards.