dUCKS scéno: 30 years of evolution at the service of cultural spaces

22 November 2024

For more than three decades, dUCKS scéno has been shaping cultural spaces through a collaborative approach and a constantly evolving organization.

Photo : Copyright Juliette Peyronnel Clouteau

For more than three decades, dUCKS scéno has been shaping cultural spaces through a collaborative approach and a constantly evolving organization, driven by multidisciplinary talents and a desire for innovation tailored to the needs of each project. Along the way, and with the arrival of new associates, the agency has seen its organization rethought and its structure evolve.

Growing and structuring

The story of dUCKS scéno began in 1992 with a small team of five enthusiasts, driven by the desire to create unique cultural spaces. As the years went by, the company’s ranks were swelled by a host of talented individuals, bringing with them a diversity of skills and experience. It was then necessary to rethink our internal organization, to enable everyone to work on projects that made the most of their strengths and expertise.

Certain decisive stages in our journey have required us to rethink our structure, with the aim of meeting growing client expectations, taking on new projects and meeting unprecedented challenges. Today, this adjustment continues unabated, driven by the desire to achieve new goals, combining efficiency, performance and innovation.

Challenging times

Driven by collaborations all over the world, we have gradually moved away from the traditional framework of French public contracts to explore projects abroad. This cross-border move has led us to rethink our practices and our approach to scenography, in order to adapt to a variety of cultural and technical environments. Indeed, each territory has its own specific perceptions and expectations regarding the design of cultural spaces. This awareness has prompted us to readapt our working methods to better meet the expectations and demands of these new projects.

Our approach has thus become more pedagogical with our partner architects and design offices around the world, often experts in building construction, but more novices in the specific requirements of cultural spaces. This accompanying role reinforces our unique positioning, fuelled by endless curiosity and the desire to discover new perspectives in scenography. Each project is a perfect opportunity for our teams to reassess our methods, refine our tools and move forward.

Continuous and collaborative evolution

dUCKS scéno, through its collaborative approach and the commitment of its associate employees, is an agency in constant mutation. It takes the form of the talents, ambitions and personalities that make it up. Everyone contributes their experience, aspirations and skills, and together we shape the face of dUCKS scéno, which is no longer the face of yesterday, but not yet the face of tomorrow either.

This consistency in diversity and constant adaptability give real meaning to our approach, while strengthening the cohesion of our team. They also feed everyone’s commitment to the choices we make and the projects we carry out, helping to ensure that dUCKS scéno is part of a continuous improvement movement.

Today: three agencies for a shared vision

In 2024, dUCKS scéno has three agencies, each with its own geographical and thematic specificities.

Villeurbanne: the head office is located near the Théâtre National Populaire, and brings together our engineers, a number of scenographic project managers and scenographic architects, all specialists in theatre design. The Design and Administration departments are also based in Villeurbanne.
Paris: Our Paris office specializes in museography, but also works on cross-operational projects. It brings together project managers who are scenographers and/or museographers, and scenographic architects specialized in exhibition design.
Shanghai: our local office has become a strategic center for our development on the Asian market.

dUCKS scéno relies on six complementary departments, each playing an essential role in the realization of our projects:

The Scenographic Department is responsible for designing scenographic concepts from the competition phase through to validation.
The Museography Department specializes in developing exhibition projects, whether permanent or temporary, indoors or in urban settings.
The Stage Engineering Division is responsible for the design of fixed and mobile stage infrastructures and equipment.
The Audiovisual and Lighting Department designs and sizes audio, video and lighting infrastructures for both theatre and exhibition settings.
The Drawing Department works with all other departments to develop project details, renderings and BIM modeling.
The Administrative Department is responsible for managing applications, project proposals and fees, and coordinating teams.

For each competition, a team of at least five experts is formed, to cover all aspects of scenography. This approach ensures that the spaces created operate optimally and are adaptable to future evolutions.

From an initial small-team operation to a diversified international structure, dUCKS scéno continues to build its identity around collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation.