Erika Kiessner

Erika Kiessner is the executive creative director and sole female partner at GSM Studios. Over two decades in museums, she has built a reputation as a visionary leader, creating sophisticated, welcoming designs that blend digital and analogue elements in story-led learning experiences.

She has led creative teams in Canada, India, Singapore, Dubai, and the United States. At GSM, she also leads the content development team and mentors emerging developers.

In 2025, GSM Studios opened Nanualuk — Northern Expedition at the Montreal Science Center. Kiessner led a multidisciplinary team in developing this interactive Arctic adventure, created with Inuit artists, actors, and advisors. Using a digital backpack to collect skills, visitors tackle more than 20 science challenges and learn about Inuit lifeways. The exhibit won several awards.

“I love that this exhibit is about climate change, but rather than lecturing to visitors, the exhibit invites them to solve a mystery, to investigate and accumulate evidence. I’ve been a museum professional for 32 years, and this may be my favorite science (and culture) exhibit ever,” said one nominator.

“Nanualuk is compelling, personal, compassionate, and often funny. It’s ambitious in its thematic depth, captivating storytelling, sophisticated technological development, and collaborative process with northern Indigenous communities.

"These elements are characteristic of Erika’s commitment to story-driven learning experiences, developed through deep collaborations, and expressed through fun and meaningful integrations of modalities, often at the front edge of our field.”

Kiessner recently led GSM’s award-winning reinvention of Montreal’s history museum, the MEM. She is leading the design of two history and culture galleries for a US state historical museum, alongside confidential projects for major US clients.