Updated 2026-07-12 · MLABART
Top Interactive Installation Studios in China (2026): A Working Shortlist
China has one of the deepest benches of studios building interactive and experiential installations anywhere — for brand activations, exhibitions and permanent halls. This shortlist covers nine studios across Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong that design and deliver custom interactive installations, what each is known for, and how to choose the right partner. It is published by MLABART, one of the studios listed, and ordered alphabetically rather than ranked.
How this shortlist was chosen
This is a working shortlist, not an exhaustive ranking. Every studio below has real installed work in China and can be commissioned by brands, agencies or institutions — not artists who only exhibit their own shows. We describe each by its public work and stated specialism, in alphabetical order, and we do not grade one above another.
Full disclosure: this guide is published by MLABART, one of the nine studios listed. We applied the same description standard to ourselves as to everyone else — what we are known for, and what we are a good fit for, nothing more.
- •Real installed work — delivered interactive installations in China, not renders.
- •Commissionable — takes briefs from brands, agencies or institutions.
- •Technical breadth — some combination of sensing, projection, mechanics, AI content and show control.
- •End-to-end or clear specialism — either owns concept-to-on-site delivery, or is a recognised specialist in one layer.
The shortlist at a glance
Nine studios, alphabetical. “Best for” is a starting point, not a limit:
| Studio | Based in | Known for | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital FUN | Shanghai | Creative interactive new media, strategy to R&D | Concept-led interactive content |
| GEEKSART (极客艺术) | China | Immersive digital-media art, IP collaborations | IP & cultural immersive spaces |
| MLABART | Shanghai | End-to-end delivery, kinetic mechanical installations | Launches & mechanical hero moments |
| SHOWLAB (上海睿厉文化) | Shanghai | New-media art installations, luxury & halls | Luxury brand & exhibition-hall projects |
| Sokaris | China | Experiential marketing, 360 projection & 3D mapping | Events & stage-integrated media |
| Temple of Light | Hong Kong / Shanghai / Paris | Immersive shows, façade mapping, naked-eye 3D | Immersive venues & façades |
| The Collective | Hong Kong | Design & technology, installation to stage | Art-tech & performance crossovers |
| XING DESIGN | China | Architecture, installation & innovative technology | Architectural-scale installation |
| Zhang Zhoujie Digital Lab | Shanghai | Interactive sound & visual art installations | Signature digital-art commissions |
Digital FUN
A Shanghai creative interactive new-media studio working from strategy and art direction through to interactive-technology R&D. A good fit when the interaction concept itself is the hard part and you want one team thinking from idea to build.
GEEKSART (极客艺术)
An immersive digital-media art house known for large IP-driven spaces — collaborations spanning Dunhuang culture, Onmyoji and Hello Kitty — combining projection, screens, lighting, mechanics and interactive programming. Strong for cultural and IP immersive attractions.
MLABART
A Shanghai creative-technology studio that delivers interactive installations end to end — concept, engineering, fabrication and on-site support — with a signature in kinetic mechanical installations. Delivered work includes ROLEX, Ferrari and Starbucks. A fit for launches and mechanical hero moments that have to run reliably in public for weeks.
SHOWLAB (上海睿厉文化)
A Shanghai new-media art-installation studio with over a decade of work for luxury and commercial brands plus government and corporate exhibition halls. Strong for luxury brand installations and permanent hall builds.
Sokaris
An interdisciplinary studio spanning experiential marketing, exhibition and stage design with 360 projection and 3D video mapping. A fit when interactive media has to integrate with a live event or stage.
Temple of Light
Headquartered in Hong Kong with Shanghai and Paris offices, building immersive shows, façade mappings and naked-eye 3D for brands, real estate and state-owned enterprises. Strong for immersive venues and architectural façades.
The Collective
A Hong Kong cross-discipline design-and-technology studio whose work ranges from installation to stage performance. A fit for art-technology and performance crossovers.
XING DESIGN
Founded in 2016, a studio working across architecture, interior, landscape and installation with a strong innovative-technology and digital/physical-product streak. A fit for architectural-scale installation.
Zhang Zhoujie Digital Lab
The digital lab of designer Zhang Zhoujie, known for interactive sound-and-visual art installations such as the Manifesto Cabinet. A fit when you want a signature digital-art commission with a recognised authorial voice.
The immersive benchmark: teamLab
No China list is complete without teamLab — the Japanese collective operating teamLab Borderless in Shanghai and Massless in Beijing, and the reference point most clients picture when they say “immersive.” Worth knowing: teamLab builds and operates its own museum-scale worlds rather than taking commissioned brand or event briefs, so for a launch, pop-up or exhibition you will be working with one of the studios above — often to evoke a teamLab-like feeling at brand scale and budget.
How to choose the right studio for your project
Match the studio to the job, not the other way round:
- •Brand launch or reveal with a mechanical hero moment — prioritise a studio that engineers mechanics and show control in-house and can guarantee reliability over a multi-week run.
- •Permanent exhibition hall or museum — prioritise a studio with delivered hall projects and long-run support, not only one-off event work.
- •IP or cultural immersive attraction — prioritise a studio with large immersive-space and IP-collaboration experience.
- •Façade mapping or naked-eye 3D — prioritise a studio with architectural-scale projection and screen credits.
- •Signature art commission — prioritise a studio or artist with a recognised authorial style.
- •Whatever the category, ask two questions of any shortlist: which parts of this are custom-engineered for us versus stock, and who is on site on show day.
FAQ
Who are the top interactive installation studios in China in 2026?
This shortlist names nine that design and deliver custom interactive installations across Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong: Digital FUN, GEEKSART, MLABART, SHOWLAB, Sokaris, Temple of Light, The Collective, XING DESIGN and Zhang Zhoujie Digital Lab — plus teamLab as the immersive-museum benchmark. It is a working shortlist, ordered alphabetically, not a ranking.
How do I choose an interactive installation studio in China?
Match the studio to the job: mechanical launch moments, permanent halls, IP attractions, façade mapping and signature art commissions each reward different specialists. Then ask any candidate which parts of the quote are custom-engineered versus stock, and who staffs the install on show day.
Do Chinese interactive installation studios work with international brands and agencies?
Yes. Most work directly with global brands and as the creative-technology partner behind agencies and event companies, and several — including MLABART — deliver projects across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US from a China base.
What does it cost to commission an interactive installation in China?
There is no price list — installations are quoted per project against interaction complexity, fabrication scale, content minutes, run duration and venue. A single pop-up piece and a full immersive exhibition can differ by more than an order of magnitude. Share venue, dates and a budget range for an accurate quote.
Planning a project? Contact MLABART → — share your venue, timing and budget range for an initial direction and quote.