Coleman Spotlights
The Coleman Outdoor Group specializes in outdoor recreation products and handheld spotlights are essential in this category. The initiative was to create a very aggressive and robust aesthetic for the line while keeping the overall feel comfortable and ergonomic. The waterproof housing safely stored these up to 3 million candlepower spotlights from nature's harshest elements.
Smartmom Teething Jewelry
Teething Bling from Smartmom Jewelry are safe teething products that allow parents to easily entertain and sooth their babies with emerging teeth. The goal was to create products that had the look of traditional jewelry yet had the safe and soft feel of traditional silicone teething products. We were able to achieve various looks and shapes that imitated natural stones, beads, and even exotic patterns.
littleBits Droid Inventor Kit
littleBits partnered up with Lucasfilm/Disney to introduce an innovative kit where kids could create their own Droid using littleBits electronic blocks. We were able to bring this initiative to life by designing and creating the parts and system that the bits utilize. With this system, anyone can create customized Droids and interact with them using their proprietary app.
Little Toader Teething Toys
Little Toader's AppeTeethers mimic the look and feel of real food to instill a humorous side to an otherwise painful development stage for babies. Designed to also duplicate the textures of real food, they massage the gums providing welcome relief to the teething babies.
Laitner Brush Auto Brush Line
The Laitner Brush Company, founded in 1855, is one of the world's oldest brush manufacturers. Specializing in housewares and automotive cleaning brushes, the objective here was to design a more modern and stylish aesthetic, along with improved ergonomics, to a broad range of cleaning brushes.
Protocol Multi Smart Tools
Being a leader in the multi-function tool category, Protocol wanted to take the multi-function concept and apply it to a variety of product categories. Focusing on the user and their needs, we were able to identify key components and features which we were able to implement into each multi-function product. The product categories ranged from kitchen tools all the way to outdoor garden tools.
Miracle Corp QuickFinder
Grooming a pet's nails is very challenging and sometimes a user cuts too deep into the quick of nail, causing pain and injury to the pet. Miracle Corp's QuickFinder was designed to detect the frequency of blood and gives the user a lighted visual cue for when it's safe to cut the nail without causing bleeding or harm to the pet.
Brolly Pet Products
The Brolly Retractable Dog Leash has a one-of-a-kind proprietary cushioned grip that provides maximum comfort, support and security when walking your dog. The leash is designed as part of a system where the user can attach travel pet bowls, poop bag dispensers, and treat bags for a more complete dog walking experience.
Vicks Steam Inhaler
The Vicks Steam Inhaler's soothing steam helps keep throat and nasal passages hydrated by providing temporary relief from cough and congestion for better breathing and for a more comfortable sleep. Various form studies were conducted to identify the cleanest and most comfortable interface for the user.
Through design research and investigation, new product opportunities and innovations are identified and explored. Brainstorm sessions lead to design concepts that are generated through 2D or 3D sketches.
Once a concept direction is defined, the concept is developed and refined into a true product design. All elements are developed including functionality tests and form studies along with preliminary manufacturing and engineering.
The refined design is now documented into 3-D CAD. The 3-D form is inputted and all engineering checks have been performed. This 3-D and 2-D CAD data specifies all data for manufacturing and includes material, color, and finish specifications
Our CAD files are then used exclusively for tooling and manufacturing. This is one of the most critical times in product development and we provide design support through manufacturing and up until production of your new product design.
Helium is a multi-disciplinary product design and development consultancy. Our philosophy is one based on solid design and innovation along with inherit, intuitive ideas where successful forms always follow successful function.
For as long as he can remember, Edwin has always wanted to be a designer and began his formal training in New York at the HS of Art and Design and then onto Pratt Institute where he graduated at the top of his class. Upon graduation, Edwin went on to work for such prestigious firms in the New York City area such as IDI, Deskey Associates and Smart Design. Utilizing his diverse knowledge and experience, he set out along with Rick Shonfeld to create Helium Design in 2001.
Edwin holds over 30 patents to his name and has received over 20 national and international design awards for his work. Some of his designs have been profiled in the collections of the Chicago Athenaeum and the Design Store of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Born in Hong Kong, he travels back frequently to Asia to oversee the production and development of many of their client's projects. Edwin is an avid golfer and notes his best design to date is his spirited young son.
Born in the UK, Rick had a burning ambition to work in New York. Inspired by the gadgetry used by James Bond, Rick followed a career in product design. After graduating from Northumbria University with honors, Rick travelled for one year to augment his formal education. Before setting up with Edwin, Rick worked as a consultant and freelance designer before joining the team at Smart Design for four years. Now based in Manchester UK, Rick oversees Helium Design's mission for all of Europe.
Rick has worked on a diverse range of projects for clients such as OXO International, Becton Dickinson, Reebok, and Stanley. Rick has received numerous patents and won awards in the design field for his work in the housewares and the high-street consumable industries. His passions apart from his two children are football, golf, and cooking.
