Monica Rottmeyer

Owner & Managing Director Public History Research, Zurich

Public History Research develops and delivers projects with a historical dimension for clients across business, industry, tourism and culture, with particular expertise in visual history.

For over two decades Monica Rottmeyer worked as a production designer in the international film industry, leading the art department on major productions.
That experience sets the visual standard for every project the agency takes on.

Background

Leadership & Governance

Executive education: Master of Advanced Studies in Leadership and Management (ZHAW/IAP), 2017, ‘High Performance Leadership’, IMD Lausanne, 2019, ‘Advanced High Performance Leadership’, IMD Lausanne, 2021 ‘Stiftungsratsausbildung’ (pension fund trustee programme), UBS, ongoing ‘AI Encounter’ Future Media, Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), 2023 and 2026

Board of trustees: Vorsorgestiftung Film und Audiovision (vfa), since 2023

Federal commissions: Expert Commission on Film Funding, Swiss Federal Office of Culture (2016–2019) Expert Commission on Education and Training, Film Section (2004–2006)

Juries: Excellence Jury for Production Design, European Film Awards (2018) Jury, Swiss Commercial and Corporate Film Award (since 2020)

Academies: Member of the European Film Academy and the Swiss Film Academy

Leading across cultures: Building trust in an international team is one of the hardest tasks in leadership. Monica Rottmeyer knows this from over twenty years in international film. As head of department, she led teams from different countries and cultures, newly assembled for every project. In 2017 she made that challenge the subject of her master’s thesis, setting out the practical factors that build trust.

Film & Production Design

Studies: Master of Arts in Stage and Costume Design, Mozarteum University Salzburg, Assistant positions at the Burgtheater and the Vienna State Opera

Over twenty years of production design and art direction for international films, including David Fincher’s ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ (Art Director Switzerland), ‘The Miracle of Bern’ (art direction, Switzerland), ‘Season of the Witch’ (set decoration and supervision), ‘Rascals on the Road’ (‘Mein Name ist Eugen’), ‘Late Bloomers’ and ‘The Mies van der Rohes’ (production design).

More than thirty commercials and corporate films since 1993 for Swisscom, Coop/Coca-Cola, Credit Suisse, SBB, AXA, Post, Mobiliar, Kuoni, Swatch and Shell; production design for commercial photography for Swiss Re and Credit Suisse, shot in Switzerland, South Africa and Indonesia.

Public History Research

Co-founded in 2012; sole owner and managing director since 2023.

Selected clients: Landqart AG (majority-owned by the Swiss National Bank), Cilag (Johnson & Johnson), Hotel Maistra 160, Les Ambassadeurs and Bank Linth (LLB Group).

Awards

City of Zurich Film Award, 2006
Honored for the production design of ‘Rascals on the Road, and for her contribution to the artistic and technical quality of production design in Swiss cinema.

Special Prize of the Académie Suisse des Gastronomes for the historical research on ‘The Culinary Heritage of the Alps’, 2012

Publications

‘150 Jahre Papierfabrik in Landquart’, book concept and realisation ‘The Culinary Heritage of the Alps’, co-author ‘Dinkelreis und Pfefferchirsi’, co-author Visual history for ‘Schweizer Käse’ and ‘Schweizer Schokolade’

Teaching

Regular seminars in historical research at ifs International Film School Cologne (2008–2014) Mentorships in interior architecture and scenography, FHNW Basel (2019/20, 2023/24).

Mandates

Concept and creative lead for projects with a historical dimension, from books and exhibitions to films and spaces.

Our work