@ the 2013-2014 ADDY Gala

Brandon
Chuck and Sofia
sofia
3

The helium family had a great time at the 2013-2014 Addy Award Gala and we made our presence known.

We took Best of Show, Best of Print, and Best of Digital for a grand total of 7 Gold and 2 Silver Awards! Gold awards: Alternative Constructors – Collateral Material (Best of Show), Alternative Constructors – Collateral Material (Best of Print), EDSA – Sales Promotion Catalog, Bala Five – Digital Advertising Campaign, Jack and Jill – Logo, Lion’s Compass – Logo. Silver awards: Levinson Jewelers – Sales Promotion Catalog, helium creative – Self Promotion. All in all, the 2013-2014 Addys were a great success for helium and we can’t wait for next year’s gala.


Original Source: http://www.heliumcreative.com/the-2013-2014-addy-gala/

OMG!

AddyAwards

This Friday, March 7th, we will be attending the 2014 American Advertising Awards ceremony, where we find out if our hard work this past year has paid off! From brochures to websites, logos and layouts, helium creative has submitted an abundance of creative pieces to this national competition of the industry’s best agencies.

Wish us the best of luck as we hope to bring home the gold! : )


Original Source: http://www.heliumcreative.com/omg/

we turned 10!

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We were greatly overwhelmed by the number of folks who came on out to celebrate helium‘s 10 years of business on January 24. It was an amazing night filled with awesome performances, artists and smiling faces. We are proud of how much helium has accomplished collectively over the past decade and are excited to see what the future holds for this little agency that could! Thank you to all who came out, donated to helium inspires [guatemala], drank a bit, ate a lot and gave us a warm pat on the back. Much more to come from team helium very soon. : )

I am grateful to say that helium is a collective of creative minds who believe in doing something big. Together we look forward to another 10 years to create, design, inspire and motivate.

303Helium_HeliumTurns10AirBalloonGraphic_022514_v1

Original Source: http://www.heliumcreative.com/we-turned-10/

Project Fine Art featuring PJ Mills

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Original Source: http://www.heliumcreative.com/project-fine-art-featuring-pj-mills/

365 Days of Creativity

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Original Source: http://www.heliumcreative.com/365-days-of-creativity/

inspirational fridays – january 2014

Inpsirational Fridays - Learn + Movivate + Inspire
Join helium creative for Inspirational Friday from 12pm – 1pm on January 24. Our very own creative director and founder of helium, Chris Heller, will be sharing what inspires him, as well as his journey in developing our little agency :) His discussion is appropriately timed on the day of our 10 year anniversary party.wanna come? e-mail chuck@heliumcreative.com or call 954.333.8900
Original Source: http://www.heliumcreative.com/inspirational-fridays-january-2014/

inspire guatemala

thinkfully_04 This is a landmark year for helium creative. In 2014 we will celebrate our 10th anniversary, unveil a new website, complete life-changing projects and take our first mission trip to Guatemala. As part of Chris Heller’s vision to give back creative genius to the world when he founded helium, we decided it was time to take our efforts to a whole new level. We knew Guatemala was the perfect destination to take our first mission trip by seeing the impact our FATVillage friends from C&I Studios were able to make when they visited the Central American country last year. The videos and photographs they brought back were jaw dropping. Every child they were able to meet and teach the arts to had a smile big enough to wrap around the earth twice. The tales they told of their journey and the creative seeds that they were able to leave with a distant community, who would have been without art if they didn’t take they time to make a difference, solidified our decision to team up with C&I Studios in 2014 and make the trip bigger, better and more impactful than before. Plenty of companies give back to their communities and other charitable causes around the globe that interest them – but we wanted to make our trip unique. Just how plenty of companies also offer creative services, helium separates from the group by adding an innovative, yet effective edge to our work. So why should our mission trip be any different? At the end of May, we are packing our bags for a 4-day journey to Guatemala City and Antigua, but we’re not just packing clothes. We are gathering new art supplies to personally hand deliver to the children of Guatemala City and Antigua. After they enjoy their new gifts, helium creative wont stop there. We are going to teach these students how to use these supplies to create art and brighten their communities. Growing up in an industrialized, first world country – it is sometimes easy to lose sight of teachings we learned as children that expanded our minds and taught us how to be creative. Our goal is to make sure these children don’t miss out on that opportunity and they retain all the lessons we can provide them. Years from now when one of these children paints a mural in the city, sparks a new idea to help their family, or pursues a career in the creative industry – we will know that we had an impact on the arts, the world and someone’s life. Its time to break out of our cozy design studio in downtown Ft. Lauderdale and spread our vision and passion around the globe – and you can help us. Fill our bags with art supplies or fill our non-profit with donations to make this trip a reality. We are grateful for all our family, friends, clients and supporters who have donated so far. Click here to donate to our mission trip now! Every dollar counts! This is only the first step in spreading a higher creative standard.

guatemala homepage graphic
Original source:- http://www.heliumcreative.com/inspires-guatemala/

The Newbies

This month we would like to welcome a new designer to the team – Casey. Along with his great fashion sense, Casey brings another creative + hardworking attitude to our company. A graduate of Full Sail University, his passion for graphic design made him a perfect new addition. We can’t wait to see some of his finished projects!
Welcome, Casey!
Along with a new designer, we also found a new design intern – Gina. Looking to gain experience with a design agency while attending Florida Atlantic University, we knew Gina would bring a positive + fearless mentality to work everyday. She hasn’t disappointed and gets her paws on multiple projects while in the office.
Welcome, Gina!

Source: http://www.heliumcreative.com/the-newbies/
Inspirational Fridays   November
Inspirational Fridays   November
Join helium creative every Friday from 12pm – 1pm as we welcome a guest speaker for lunch to discuss what inspires them! We'd love to see you there, so just give a shout to say you're coming! We've got some really awesome speakers lined up, so check them out Inspirational Fridays   Novemberwanna come? e-mail chuck@heliumcreative.com or call 954.333.8900
Inspirational Fridays   November
Inspirational Fridays   November
marketing gruru for the miami herald [and our very own art director's dad]
Inspirational Fridays   November
creative director for the girls' club & visual artist
Inspirational Fridays   November
designer + part-time vegan
Inspirational Fridays   November
Inspirational Fridays   November

let’s celebrate – save the date [1.24.13]


You must RSVP to attend this shindig. [ You know how it is... Gotta have enough food + booze for all!]

Source: http://www.heliumcreative.com/lets-celebrate-save-the-date-1-24-13/

Beyond The Bubble

People tend to dwell in their own little bubble, getting caught up in routine + ritual + comfort. I say “people”, but really I mean me. If my self-projection applies to you, please continue to read. If not, please continue to read anyway.  So we’ve got our little life bubble that contains the usual day-to-day blah: work, work relationships, home, family. We generally talk to the same sphere of people, go to the same places, eat at similar restaurants. Routine breeds stability breeds comfort breeds happy. That’s the norm. I like to be comfortable. Happy. Stable. When it actually happens, I tend to tread those waters and not rock the boat too much. I went through years of unconsciously dreading change because change was putting one foot in dark, unknown territory. The unknown can be uncomfortable. Scary. Unpredictable.  All the things that make me wanna hide in a closet somewhere and long for the familiar. Whether it’s fear, laziness or just a complete lack of awareness, it is easy to go months – years, even – following the same trail of breadcrumbs.
So here’s an embarrassingly superficial example, but effective all the same.  I’ll end up wearing the same outfit week after week because at one point I know it looked really good or made me feel like I’m the coolest guy this side of the tracks [and, no, I’m not necessarily referring to a certain pair of tan suede boots casually coordinated with black skinny jeans and simple navy pocket T from J. Crew]. Truth be told that outfit starts getting worn, old and loses its luster. It becomes a uniform of laziness. I’m no longer putting thought into what I wear, I’m just doing the same thing over and over because it was great 6 months ago and requires absolutely no thought whatsoever. That hypothetical, once kick-ass outfit is just as faded as my creativity.
Have I lost you? Wardrobe analogy got you down?
It is so important to not only change your clothes, but change your routine. Just as my outfit starts to stink, so does my daily life Beyond The Bubble
Do the unfamiliar. If it were up to me, I’d probably sit in my house watching Netflix for days. Literally I would be butt ass naked on the couch, gut deep in a few pints of Ben & Jerry’s strewn out on the coffee table within spoons reach, all while watching consecutive episodes of Breaking Bad back to back to back to back. But it’s not up to me. I was built with a nagging desire to keep learning. Keep growing. Out of the melted Ben & Jerry’s abyss will emerge a fearless new Ryan who can conquer the world.
So I have to put myself in situations that are not necessarily comfortable. We have been doing Inspirational Friday’s at the helium studio once a week, which has allowed me to meet new folks regularly. Something I otherwise would not be doing. Whether I’m meeting people, taking a different route to work in the morning, spontaneously driving to the Keys for a weekend or eating at a new restaurant, I’ve found it so important to break through my bubble. I’ve lived in Fort Lauderdale my whole life and my scope of What To Do has been less than narrow. Apps like Yelp, Foursquare or Groupon are awesome for suggesting new places to eat and things to do. I’m a Yelp nerd. Community activities, galleries, events, parks, classes, workshops – there is life beyond the bubble. Who knew?
I had an English teacher in High School who told me something very similar that just now clicked. I was probably depressed or complaining about the oh-so harrowing sorrows of life – some teen angst melodrama – and she told me that I needed to do something different.  Nothing changes if nothing changes. She said to go take a walk around the block. Go to Barnes and Nobles to read a book. Write something. Whatever it is, break the routine and keep putting myself in a new situation or circumstance. At the time I remember thinking that she just didn’t understand me or my very serious 16 year-old life crises. But as I write this blog I realize she may have been on to something. And I hate to admit that because she once said I looked like a prairie dog and I still harbor some deep seeded resentment for it. Although upon further examination, prairie dogs are kind of cute [please see the photo below].
Ms. Rivard, proud member of MENSA by way of the great land of Canada, was basically telling me to change my outfit. Or at the very least, to mix it up. Wear the t-shirt with a different pair of pants. You gotta start somewhere.
Baby steps, right? Beyond The Bubble
       Ok maybe I do kinda resemble a prairie dog. But a really cute, lovable one.


1/3 of my hypothetical outfit that needs a dose of change.

Inspirational Fridays

Join helium creative every Friday from 12pm – 1pm as we welcome a guest speaker for lunch to discuss what inspires them! We ‘d love to see you there – so just give a shout to say you’re coming! We’ve got some really awesome speakers lined up, check them out Inspirational Fridays
wanna come? e-mail chuck@heliumcreative.com or call 954.333.8900

10.11.13
ashley huizenga
visual artist + display coordinator for Anthropologie

10.18.13
diana fleming-lorenzo
media buyer + co-owner of Blue Daisy Media

10.25.13
kim grijalva
creative director of The Guild Five Forty Five+ visual storyteller

11.01.13
rebecca bradley
co-owner of Cadence + community innovator


Big Thanks AMASoFL


We were really excited to have the South Florida American Marketing Association invade our studio this month to listen to Chris and Ryan talk about how to amp up Creativity + Strategy.  We wanted to share an overview of the presentation with you, as well as a blog that sums up what we spoke about.  Click here to read the what we went over!

Big Thanks AMASoFL

The Great Creative

There’s a common look of horror in many an eye when the talk of “being creative” enters the dialogue.  People are quick to write themselves off as being entirely bound to their left brain, shuddering at the thought of utilizing their creative juices. Mainly because said folk feel that if they can’t paint, draw, sculpt or write the next great American novel then they are not “the creative type”.
That’s stupid.
helium recently took a trip to San Francisco for the HOW Design Conference. One of the main lectures that we sat in on really blew some minds by stating that “Creativity can be learned.” Chuckles whispered through the room while minds began to open to the possibility.
Simply put: Creativity is a muscle that needs workin’ while all the other stuff is skill. Creativity is how you get there. The solution, the problem solving, the crafty maneuvers taken to bypass obstacles or gain a new perspective.
So I’m guilty of DVRing countless episodes of Chopped on The Food Network. I realized I quickly formed a rather unhealthy addiction to the show, spending lost days watching back to back episodes. Mind you my cooking ability was mediocre, relying mainly on the same staple of ingredients or basic preparations. But something happened as I watched this show where chefs were given a select number of bizarre mystery ingredients, having to create all-star meals within a short duration of time. Ox Tail, Gummy Bears, Coke and Lima Beans could be paired together, challenging the chefs to create an out of the box, gourmet dish on the fly.
The constant repetition of Chopped got me to open my pantry and start seeing things a bit differently.  Without realizing it, I began challenging myself to create meals by transforming ingredients from their inherent form. I started to understand layering flavors, balancing ingredients and presentation.
By no means did I begin my little culinary adventure with any skill or knowledge whatsoever. But by hearing experts talk about flavors and watch them alter ingredients, my culinary chops flexed their biceps. I grew creatively by watching and learning, then ultimately applying.
Whatever profession or passion you have, there is a level of creativity that applies to absolutely everything we do as human beings.  We face challenges everyday, having to make decisions and accomplish goals based upon those obstacles. That problem solving, the thought process that gets you from point A to point B is the very foundation of creative ingenuity.  Whether it is persuasion, manipulation, creation, organization, conversation…Any “ation” for that matter.
+ The nurse who tries to get a patient to laugh in a bleak situation.
+ The mom who makes dinner for her kids every night with only what’s in the pantry.
+ The cab driver who has to get a client to the airport using back roads so he’s not late.
+ The accountant who finds ways to shave money off your taxes. [Thanks, Elliot!]
+ The teacher who’s able to get her students excited about Calculus.
+ The hiker who figures out a way to save his life by drinking his own urine and sawing off his arm. [awesome movie btw]

helium is a creative agency at our core. We aim to set a higher creative standard. That’s what we say, right? But what does that mean? We are a studio that is passionate about finding solutions, changing the way we see things, the way you see things. We get off on exercising that muscle and letting it bleed into everything we do. It is the best way to learn, to grow and to remain inspired day to day. Creativity keeps life interesting and turns challenges into opportunities. A shift in perspective by finding a creative solution, goal or challenge in any circumstance flexes that muscle, allowing room for growth and inspiration.

A New Launch

The anticipated launch of the reimagined FATVillage brand has officially made it’s way to the light of day. We’ve taken a little extra pride in this brand + website + app project because it is near and dear to our design-y hearts. FATVillage is our hood. Our ye olde stomping grounds where we spend more time than our own homes. Our studio is located in the emerging FATVillage Arts District, also home to many artist studios and creative businesses. This project not only gave us the freedom to do some really cool work, but also embodies aspects of why we love what we do.
Helping others: FATVillage has been a budding creative community for many years and more recently began gaining momentum in its recognition. We saw an opportunity to really showcase The Village and the talent that makes up The Villagers. We created a responsive website around the objective to highlight all of the awesome creative studios, artists and events found in FATVillage. We gave everyone their own page on the website where they can upload images of their work, studio and events. Along with a custom blog that can be updated regularly using their own personal backend login, each Villager is also able to offer insight into their work or business. The website has become a venue to showcase + promote not only FATVillage, but also the people who make up our creative community. The interactive mobile app that helium created also speaks to that primary objective. We developed a matching game that requires the user to visit each studio in The Village in order to complete various levels [and of course there are super cool prizes donated by the various artists + businesses].
Art for Art: We had the opportunity to design for an Arts District. ‘Nuff said. The helium team has a foundation in fine arts – we’re all a bunch of creative nerds who probably doodle more than we should. Art is a passion and being able to utilize our personal work for something that we love is like a match made in designer heaven.
Community: We believe in putting out what you wanna get back and doing the right thing. Cliché, but it works. We love our community and are overly excited to do whatever we can to contribute. This reimagining effort of FATVillage has allowed us to really put a stamp on Fort Lauderdale. With the new logo, branding, print collateral, website, app and events that has gone into raising awareness + support for The Village, we know that only good can come to this community. Ultimately it is about making a difference, increasing the cultural + social + creative influence on our city.
Create a Voice: A community is nothing without a voice to bring it together. FATVillage was a lot of good ideas + separate entities that just needed a little “sauce” to tie it all together. The individual artists and studios create a stronger presence when highlighted together as a collective community, rather than individual units, which can appear disjointed to the public. We saw an opportunity to create a strong and unified voice for FATVillage, one that spoke to the public as a cool, urban creative community with assets far beyond graffiti walls and historical warehouse spaces. We have begun to highlight the history of Flagler Village [where FATVillage is centrally located within Fort Lauderdale], not only embracing the more recent evolution but also showcasing its roots with Henry Flagler who founded the area originally in the 1800′s. The more depth in voice, the more value FATVillage ultimately has.
This ongoing project will continue to develop as FATVillage emerges on the radar and gains more recognition. In the meantime, make sure to check out the reimagined FATVillage identity + website + app that helium created. And don’t miss ARTWALK in The Village on the last Saturday of every month!