Our work ranges from illustrated logos and patterns to publications that are word-rich and image-light. In either case, it’s having the best of both in perfect balance that matters. Our talented team ensures that, every project.
The Team
Helen Young
Creative Director, Owner
After earning her BFA with high honors in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois, Helen ventured into Chicago’s corporate design world. She relocated to Denver in 1993 and launched EnZed Design three years later. Her boutique firm’s creativity and strategy has resulted in award-winning communications and even more prized business relationships. Current clients range from a national consulting firm to a cannabis startup, and from small business retail to University of Colorado healthcare.
Helen served as President of AIGA Colorado and was honored in 2017 with the AIGA Fellow Award for service and expertise in the field of design. Taking the advice she’s offered clients for more than 25 years, she began exploring additional avenues for graphic expressions reflecting her passion: surface patterns. Advances in printing, substrate and production technologies amplified the potential, making doors, floors, walls, ceilings, and windows as likely a canvas as paper and fabric. Her most recent inspiration has come from sailing catamarans in the Sea of Cortez, snowshoeing Breckenridge trails, shopping Tokyo’s Itoya stationery store, playing competitive tennis, and returning to Katikati, New Zealand, at every opportunity.
What’s next? “What’s possible?”
Carla Carwile
Strategic Partner, Writer
Each time a client from a new industry walks through the EnZed door, Carla’s already written about it. In fact, she may have crafted an introduction paragraph to begin with the letter Q (for a perfect drop cap opportunity). Creative and accommodating, Carla’s strategic mind works quickly, especially under sun’s dawning light, to grasp key messages and communicate them with style and efficiency. A regular blogger, this mid-western farm girl has moved mountains for EnZed since 2002. We always appreciate the cleverness of Carla Carwile Creates and our clients do, too.
“I have worked with Helen Young for many years and often refer to her as 'a secret weapon.' Helen is exceptional at understanding the linkage between creative services and business strategy and is a truly outstanding resource for clients who need a unique, memorable solution for customer- or employee-facing creative projects.”
— Arthur Hodges, Chief of Staff, CoBank
Top Talent
Adding to our talent pool, these small businesses are our go-to resources.
Sean Duggan
Studio Nomad
Sean has been a web designer since, well, the advent of websites. His smart, strategic branding and well-targeted design helps companies speak to their target audiences via print or interactive media. His love of minimalist design and well crafted typography brings a fresh take to the often cluttered online arena. Sean is at home in both the creative and development worlds, building projects with strong skills in CSS, HTML and WordPress. He’s responsible for making our website engaging and functional.
Annette Slade
Annette Slade Photography
Annette Slade not only has the ability to see beauty in all things, but is able to capture it with her camera and share it with her audience. With nearly two decades under her belt as a commercial and editorial photographer, Annette has a true passion and eye for creating unique, emotionally charged images. She approaches each project and each client with her undivided attention. No detail is too small. We enjoyed collaborating with her to photograph our gallery of projects.
“I have worked with EnZed Design for more than six years, and remain extremely impressed with their creativity, professionalism and outstanding work. I have a small team and in partnership with EnZed am able to deliver exceptional materials and products that increase our branding and positioning in the marketplace. As a bonus, it is a true pleasure to work with Helen and her team.”
— Stephanie Barton, FCC Services
Awards
It’s not the trophy or plaque or inscribed crystal vase that counts. It’s the fact that the work we did to meet a client’s communication objectives also caught the attention of the nation’s top creatives. We’ll take that. And we have, as you’ll see here.
Design Awards
Award of Merit, HOW Magazine, Self-Promotion Annual (3)
Awards of Distinction, Creativity 32 (2)
Applause Award: Best of Category, Art Directors Club of Denver
Applause Award, Art Directors Club of Denver (6)
Judge’s Choice, Art Directors Club of Denver (2)
Gold Award, Art Directors Club of Denver (3)
Silver Award, Art Directors Club of Denver (2)
Bronze Award, Art Directors Club of Denver (4)
Merit Award, Art Directors Club of Denver (2)
Best of Show, AIGA Colorado, 501c Advertising and Design Awards
Best Annual Report, AIGA Colorado, 501c Advertising and Design Awards
Communication Awards
Grand Award, APEX Award for Publication Excellence
Diamond Best of Show, Business Marketing Association, Colorado
Gold Key Award, Business Marketing Association, Colorado
Silver Key Award, Business Marketing Association, Colorado
Gold Award, SNAP Excel Awards, Society of National Association Publications
Gold Award, International ARC Awards (2)
Gold Pick Award, Public Relations Society of America
Best of Show, Bronze Quill Award, IABC Colorado
EXCEL Bronze Award, Association Media & Publishing
Bronze Key Award, Annual Reports, Colorado Healthcare Communicators
Press
- FCCS Branding Launch, Fast Forward, 2020
- AIGA Colorado Fellows, 2019
- Voyage Denver, 2019
- AIGA Colorado Fellow video, 2017
- Blackbird General Store Branding, 2017
- 600 Grit Business Cards, 2017
- AIGA Colorado Blog for Graduates, 2015
- EnZed Design Moving Announcement, 2015
- Lucky 13 Card Kit for Frederic Printing, 2013
- AIGA Colorado Blog for Board Recruiting, 2013