Public History
Research

Monica Rottmeyer

Public History Research specialises in visual history.

We create and design historical content for companies, publications and films.

The agency’s founder Monica Rottmeyer guides the creative process with her award-winning expertise in art, film and business management. She collaborates with clients closely to uncover their historical narratives.

We create and design historical content for companies, publications and films.

The agency’s founder Monica Rottmeyer guides the creative process with her award-winning expertise in art, film and business management. She collaborates with clients closely to uncover their historical narratives.

At the heart of our work is a commitment to excellence, thoughtful collaboration and enduring quality.

Out of the archives and into a story

Public History Research partners with organizations to uncover 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 and beautifully executed to a high standard.

This is a journey of discovery into the collective knowledge and values of an organization’s past. Uncovering 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 We’ve created historical content for Switzerland’s well-known industries: watches, chocolate, pharmaceuticals and finance, as well as for museums and tourism authorities.

Public History Research partners with organizations to uncover 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.

We guide our clients from the early stages of research through to the final delivery, ensuring each project is strategic and beautifully executed to a high standard.

This is a journey of discovery into the collective knowledge and values of an organization’s past. Uncovering 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.

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.

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.

We’ve created award-winning documentaries, feature films, commercials and corporate films.

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

Rascals on the Road

We won Zurich’s Film Award for Best Production Design for this beloved Swiss feature film. This adaptation of a children’s classic became one of Switzerland’s most successful films.

Johnson & Johnson Janssen Cilag

Public History captured the story of one of Switzerland’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers through historical and visual research, expert interviews and written content.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

In this thriller directed by American filmmaker David Fincher, our team managed Swiss art direction and set decoration for the Zurich scenes.

Honey of the Alps

Public History Food produced this publication, celebrating the richness and diversity of Alpine honey, spanning from France to Slovenia.

150 Years Landqart Paper Mill

From concept to completion, Public History created an anniversary publication honouring 150 years of Landqart, the producer of Swiss banknote paper, through research, storytelling, and interviews.

Swiss Cheese

This award‑winning book by Public History Food celebrates Switzerland’s cheese heritage. We conducted in‑depth historical image research that shaped its stunning visual narrative.

Dinkelreis und Pfefferchrisi

Public History produced this book celebrating Basel’s culinary traditions, unearthing the surprising stories behind cherished regional dishes.

Holcim: Chronology

This book reviews the milestones of the last 100 years of one of the world’s leading construction materials companies, founded in Switzerland.

Swisscom

For this commercial, we researched and compiled Swiss ski history, curating a collection of Switzerland’s most significant skiing moments from national film archives.

Season of the Witch

We supervised set decoration and conducted visual research for this American adventure-mystery film, set in the medieval period and filmed at leading studios in Hungary.

Swiss National Museum

For this exhibit on the history of Switzerland’s food culture, Public History provided historical content and curated still-life dining scenes for the museum publication.

H.Schwarzenbach - The Zurich Cook Book

In homage to Zurich’s longstanding purveyor of fine foods, Public History Food created a culinary narrative that explores 150 years of history and passion.

The Mies van der Rohes

An epic family saga told through the women closest to Mies van der Rohe. We designed the historically authentic sets, developed through extensive research on Modernist‑era architecture.

The Culinary Heritage of the Alps

This four-part film series explores Alpine food history. Public History Research was awarded a special prize for its significant contributions to heritage image and film.

Les Ambassadeurs

To celebrate 50 years of luxury watchmaking and fine jewellery, Public History developed the concept and historical narrative for an exclusive anniversary publication.

Swiss Federal Railways

To capture the many layers of SBB’s identity, we led the production design and historical research for this series of employer‑branding films, creating stories that connect the past and present.

The Culinary Heritage of the Alps

An award‑winning publication by Public History celebrating the Alpine region’s culinary traditions, brought to life through immersive visual research and historical storytelling.

The Miracle of Bern

We led Swiss production design and visual research to capture the look and feel of 1950s Switzerland during Germany’s unexpected 1954 Soccer World Cup victory.

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