About Commons

Commons makes screens interactive to stir and amplify human experiences through the connection between people, place, and information.

We build tools for organizations to manage digital content across physical spaces — from a single countertop display to a network of screens in retail locations, cafes, and community venues.

What we believe

Screens in physical spaces should feel like they belong there. They should complement the room, the business, and the people in it — not compete with them. The best digital signage is the kind you notice because it’s useful, not because it’s loud.

We reject the default mode of digital displays: autoplay video ads, clip-art promotions, and busy layouts that clash with their surroundings. That approach treats screens as interruptions. We treat them as a medium for connection.

How it works

Organizations sign up, add their locations, and manage content through a simple web dashboard. Content is designed once and adapts automatically to different screen sizes — the same principle as responsive web design, applied to real-world spaces.

Each location gets a display that can be paired with a low-cost device like a Raspberry Pi. Content syncs over the network and plays on a schedule, with live updates available at any time.

Design principles

• Minimalist by default. Clean layouts that let partner content breathe. No visual noise.
• Responsive across form factors. Content adapts from tablet to television. One design system, many screen sizes.
• Context-aware. Displays should feel native to their environment, not imported from a different world.
• Human-first. Amplify real experiences. Support the people in the room, not the algorithm.

What we’re not

We are not an ad network. We don’t optimize for impressions or attention capture. We don’t run video commercials in loops. We don’t produce busy, distracting visuals that contrast or conflict with the physical space they occupy.

If the screen makes the room worse, something has gone wrong.