Our studio is your Art Department.

With a nationwide network of top-tier design, strategy, and production talent, we meticulously curate the team your project needs to create immersive, unforgettable experiences.

See Our Work

Our Experience

Our team members have worked on high profile projects for a wide variety of companies and organizations, including:

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Arrt Dept. was founded and is led by Cole and Raef Payne, a duo with decades of experience in large scale, immersive design.

  • Cole Payne is an event strategy, marketing, and operations expert with a career spanning over 15 years, coordinating large-scale events all across the United States. 

    Her work includes creative direction for experiential events and global brands like Sony, Showtime and more and onsite operations for renowned art fairs like The Armory Show and Frieze. With deep expertise in event operations, talent contracts, and marketing strategies, she has led projects spanning hundreds of thousands of visitors.

  • Raef Payne is a designer and director, branding major events on every continent and broadcasted all around the world. Experience includes concerts and music festivals, thought leader conferences, televised award shows, and art fairs. His work has appeared in Times Square, The New York Times, ABC, NBC, and numerous publications.

    He has co-founded and run an experiential events company in 2015 with Cole Payne, doing events and activations for companies such as Sony pictures, Showtime, FX, and USA network, including collaborations with BBQ Films NYC on an Emmy nominated launch event for the television show, Mr. Robot.

The Studio

  • Raef Payne

    DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE

  • Cole Payne

    DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY

  • Abby Mumme

    DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

  • Molly Chapin

    DESIGNER

  • Tyler Fleming

    DESIGNER, ILLUSTRATOR

  • Jay Wilkinson

    ARTIST, BUILDER

  • Erik Bardin

    PHOTOGRAPHER, VIDEOGRAPHER

  • Jordan Harrison

    Animator

Join The Studio

We're always seeking exceptional talent to enrich our creative community. 

Whether you're a designer, producer, writer, photographer, set designer, artist, or sculptor, we'd love to hear from you. We offer both in-house and remote freelance opportunities.

Apply Now