Public History
Research
Monica Rottmeyer
Public History Research specialises in visual history.
We create and design historical content for companies, publications and films. With her award-winning expertise in art, film and business management, the agency’s founder, Monica Rottmeyer, guides the creative process and collaborates closely with clients to uncover their historical narratives.
Out of the archives and into a story
Public History Research partners with organizations to unveil the stories woven through their histories, delving deep into archives and visual treasures. We carefully study photographs, documents, and film footage. We consider the history of artifacts and their context, provided by witnesses and experts. A compelling history begins to take shape, allowing us to piece together a historical narrative that brings together powerful images and carefully researched details.
At the heart of our work is a commitment to excellence, thoughtful collaboration and enduring quality. We guide our clients from the early stages of research through to the final delivery, ensuring each project is strategic for the organization and beautifully executed. This is a journey of discovery into the collective knowledge and values of an organization’s past. Uncovering this corporate visual history is a powerful and unifying asset for a company. It’s a road map for marketing as well as a touchstone for charting the future.
With over 25 years of experience, we offer a unique approach that brings together business intelligence and artistic sensibility. We’ve created historical content for Switzerland’s well-known industries: watches, chocolate, pharmaceuticals and finance, as well as for museums and tourism authorities.
We’ve created historical content for Switzerland’s well-known industries: watches, chocolate, pharmaceuticals and finance, as well as for museums and tourism authorities.
In our projects, we accompany our clients from the initial idea to the final presentation of their story.
At the beginning of a collaboration, we first listen and then ask a lot of questions; this is how we find the most effective format for telling your story.
In the next step, we sift through existing material such as images, documents and film footage.
In addition, we use proven scientific methods such as archive research, interviews with contemporary witnesses, expert consultations and the analysis of historical sources.
Based on this knowledge, we create a concept tailored to the wishes and ideas of our customers and develop the historical content accordingly.
In the subsequent realisation phase, we support you right through to the finished end product.
Our aim is to convey content that is based solely on historical facts in a good and understandable way.
Design for historical films
From developing a concept to designing and planning production and set design, we create unique films that bring the visual world of a historical epoch to life.
We’ve created award-winning documentaries, feature films, commercials and corporate films.
As part of our creative process, we create a historical “look book” for clients to experience how the visual elements and script come together.
For films with historical themes, we offer “Historical Moodboards”, visual reference works for all creative and technical departments involved in the project.
We also conceive, design and plan the production design.
This means: highly professional film sets for visual worlds of every era. The past, the present and the future.
Our "Historical Moodboards" contain the historical visual aspects of the respective script. We accompany a production from the treatment through the preparatory work and the film shoot to the completion of the project.
With our interdisciplinary team of historians, graphic designers, photographers, film architects, research professionals and producers, we realise projects with sophisticated content and aesthetics. We also draw on our extensive international network to achieve this.
We are curious about your story! Give us a call to see how we can work together.
Our motivation stems from dedicated curiosity, from a deep immersion in research with a simultaneous view of the big picture. We value the pleasure of outstanding content and visual quality as well as the joy of a successful end product and satisfied customers.
Projects
Holcim: Chronology
The history of the world’s largest cement company.
Johnson & Johnson Janssen Cilag
The history of Johnson & Johnson’s Swiss subsidiary.
Research, visual and oral history, historical consultation and text.
Swiss Cheese: The Definitive Book on Swiss Cheese
Visual history and image research.
The Culinary Heritage of the Alps
The films accompanying the book title won a special prize for historical film research. Visual history and film research.
The Culinary Heritage of the Alps
An award-winning publication celebrating the diverse food history of the Alpine region.
Visual history and research of the Alpine food history.
Les Ambassadeurs
A publication celebrating 50 years of luxury watches and jewelry. Visual history and research; creation of a digital image archive.
The Miracle of Bern
Germany’s unexpected victory at the Soccer World Cup 1954.
Historical research and art direction for Switzerland.
Rascals on the Road
One of Switzerland’s most celebrated films. Winner of Zurich’s Film Award for Best Production Design.
Swisscom
The best moments in the history of Swiss skiing
Historical research and film research.
SBB: Move Switzerland with us
SBB Short Films
Historical research and set design.
Season of the Witch
An adventure mystery movie starring Nicolas Cage.
Set Decoration and research.
150 Years of the Landqart Paper Mill
A milestone publication celebrating Landqart AG, the paper producer of the Swiss banknote.
Research, visual and oral history, marketing and writing.
The Mies van der Rohes
An epic family saga set in the Modernist era, told by the women closest to the iconic architect. Production design and studio set design.
Dinkelreis und Pfefferchrisi
Visual research on the food history of the Basel region. Grand Prix du Livre Gastronomqiue.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
A thriller directed by American filmmaker David Fincher.
Art Direction and Set Decoration for Switzerland.
Schwarzenbach Delicatessen
H. Schwarzenbach - The Zurich Cook Book
Visual History and research.
Honey of the Alps
A work celebrating the diversity of honey in the Alpine region. Visual history and image research in Slovenia, Austria and Italy.
What does Switzerland eat? Exhibit at the Swiss National Museum.
Curation and staging of still-life dining scenes.