This year was all about building brands that move, whether emotionally, visually, or sometimes just off the beaten path. We hit reset with Poncho, launching a new website and an outdoor-ready identity that captures the spirit of adventure. We dug into Alberta’s roots with Big Rock Brewery, creating a rebrand and packaging system that feels as rugged and refreshing as the beer itself—and boosting sales by 47%! Then there’s Hooky, a reminder that even in the world of brand design, play is powerful. Three unique brands, one shared love for bold ideas and craft done right.
Helms Workshop 2025 Year in Review
Big Brand Launches
But Wait, There’s More
It wasn’t just the big launches that made this year special. It was all the projects that let us dive in, get creative, and have fun doing what we love. From quick collaborations to passion-fueled builds, each one kept our creative energy flowing. They reminded us that great work comes in all shapes, stories, and moments.
07 — Hye Harvest Branding & Packaging
10 — Quik Print Rebrand
15 Years of Helms Workshop
It’s been a wild ride, and this year we celebrated 15 years of amazing team members and client partners, spanning from global icons to stand-out startups: Hershey, MTV, Disney, Harley-Davidson, Southern Comfort, Whole Foods, Pepsico, Howler Bros, Jack Daniel’s, Tecovas, Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain, New Belgium, Nestlé, Diageo, Circuit of the Americas, Everlywell, and Target are listed among our client partners. And there are some big ones to come.
We’ve also celebrated some big wins. We’ve branded one of Time Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places, helped Willie Nelson come out in support of marriage equality, earned a spot in Communication Arts 60-year Evolution of Creativity, and made global news for a small craft brewery in Austin with our ridiculous idea for the world’s first 99-pack of beer.
15 Year Anniversary Party
New Team Members
This year, we welcomed new designers, writers, and brand managers who brought serious skill and even better vibes. They’ve already sharpened our work and improved our playlists. Here’s to growing the crew and keeping the momentum going.
Gabriel Victoriano
Design
Tayler Challis
Design
Chloe Christianson
Copywriting
Kristin Youngblood
Brand Management
Collective Wins
This year was all about building meaningful, valuable, and joyful things with great people—from an ADDY Award and “Best Bento Box” win for Tancho, to cheering on LeRoy & Lewis as they kept their Michelin star, to recognitions from The Dieline and Communication Arts. Every project was powered by trust, collaboration, and the belief that thoughtful design (and a little celebration) can turn big ideas into real wins.
| Client | Feature / Award |
|---|---|
| Tancho |
Tancho Named “Best Bento Box” by Austin Monthly Tancho Sushi: American Advertising Awards, Austin — Silver ADDY Award |
| High Five | |
| Murray’s Tavern | |
| LeRoy & Lewis | |
| All Día |
Between Projects
This year, we got out there—beyond the studio, off our screens, and into the world. We caught up with clients outside Texas, explored new cities, and found inspiration around every corner. Turns out, the best ideas don’t always come from behind a desk.
Countries Visited
Bahamas, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States
Cities/Places Visited
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Aspen, Auckland, Barcelona, Bergen, Cambridge, Caprock Canyon State Park, Charleston, Chicago, Christchurch, Colorado Springs, Columbia, Copenhagen, Dallas, Denver, Edinburgh, Edoras (Mount Sunday), Fiordland National Park, Fredericksburg, Gainesville, Galveston, Garden of the Gods, Gatlinburg, Hakone, Harrisonburg, Helsingør, Helsinki, Hobbiton, Kansas City, Kauai, Knoxville, Kyoto, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, London, Memphis, Miami, Mount Rainier National Park, Myrtle Beach, Nara, Nashville, Nassau, New Orleans, New York City, Nikko, Oahu, Olympic National Park, Osaka, Oslo, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Phoenix, Pike’s Peak, Playa Mujeres, Richmond, Roskilde, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Stockholm, Tallinn, Te Anau, Tokyo, Waiheke Island, Wānaka, Washington DC, Wichita, Wilmington, York
Total Places Visited
70
| Region | Countries Visited | Cities/Places Visited | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | United States, Mexico, Bahamas | Aspen, Caprock Canyon State Park, Charleston, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Columbia, Dallas, Denver, Fredericksburg, Gainesville, Galveston, Garden of the Gods, Gatlinburg, Harrisonburg, Kansas City, Kauai, Knoxville, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, Miami, Memphis, Mount Rainier National Park, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, Nassau, New Orleans, New York City, Oahu, Olympic National Park, Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Phoenix, Pike’s Peak, Playa Mujeres, Richmond, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Washington DC, Wichita, Wilmington | 42 |
| Europe | Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, United Kingdom, Spain | Barcelona, Bergen, Cambridge, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Helsingør, Helsinki, London, Oslo, Roskilde, Stockholm, Tallinn, York | 13 |
| Asia-Pacific | Japan, New Zealand | Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Auckland, Christchurch, Edoras (Mount Sunday), Fiordland National Park, Hakone, Hobbiton, Kyoto, Nara, Nikko, Osaka, Te Anau, Tokyo, Waiheke Island, Wānaka | 15 |
The Vibes Were High
We kept the creativity flowing inside and outside the studio this year. Whether it was biking through the city, running a 10K, bowling strikes, or soaking up the sun on Lake Austin, we found plenty of ways to unwind and connect. Work hard and play harder.
The Statesman Cap 10K
AIGA Bowling
Out & About
Summer Day
Rosedale Ride
Out & About
Holiday Party
Studio Tours
Our Clients Said it Best
“Working with the Helms team was a 10/10 on every level. Not only was our website redesign a huge success, everyone on the team was a joy to work with. Couldn’t recommend Helms more!”
— Clayton Spencer, Founder, Poncho
“I highly recommend Helms Workshop for any organization seeking impactful branding and website development. Their team combines strategic insight with exceptional creative execution, delivering brand identities that are both visually compelling and deeply aligned with a company’s mission and values.”
— Charlie Tiantawach, CEO, Es Vedra Cinemas
Cheers to All of Our Clients for Another Great Year
A huge cheers to the clients and collaborators who made this year one to remember. You pushed us, inspired us, and reminded us why we love the craft of building brands that matter. Thanks for bringing the kind of energy and trust that makes great work happen.
- Academy Sports + Outdoors
- American Optical
- Athletic Nicotine
- Big Rock Brewery
- Blackberry Mountain
- Circuit of the Americas
- Civil Goat Coffee
- ClimbWorks
- De Nada
- Endeavor Real Estate Group
- FOND Bone Broth
- Fulton & Roark
- Gettysburg College
- Harley-Davidson Motor Company
- Head West
- Hooky Entertainment
- Hye Harvest
- Karbach Brewing Company
- Kerbey Lane
- Kosmos Q
- Lake Hour
- LeRoy & Lewis
- Lil’ Easy
- Poncho Outdoors
- Quik Print
- R-C Ranch
- Rockefeller Group
- Rosedale Foundation
- Salt Lick BBQ
- Still Austin
- Tancho
- Tangerine
- Tupelo Goods
- Wallace Dry Goods
- Wild Sol
See Y’all in 2026
Here’s to more bold ideas, brilliant collaborations, and beautiful work in the new year to come. Look for work in the new year for Karbach Brewing, Slice, and Liquid IV. We’ll also roll out our first pet brand, a longtime agency goal. And although we can’t talk about it, look for an interstellar collab between us, a snack giant, and the most beloved movie character of the past few years. And there are even more big surprises on the horizon.
Let’s keep the momentum rolling and make this next chapter even more inspired, connected, and fearless.