The Hettema Group Named Outstanding Achievement Winner in HOW International Design Awards

Project selected as one of 12 Outstanding Achievement-winning

designs from top agencies.

One World Observatory, a project developed by The Hettema Group, in partnership with Legends, was chosen as an Outstanding Achievement winner out of 315 award-winning designs in the most recent HOW International Design Awards. This highly selective and well-regarded competition sponsored by HOW magazine recognizes excellence on a global scale.

HOW’s editorial and design team—along with Marina Willer of Pentagram, Sebastian Padilla of Anagrama, and Dana Arnett of VSA Partners—evaluated more than 1,000 entries and selected winning projects that demonstrated an ideal mix of concept, strategy and execution. Entries were judged by project type (e.g., apps, posters, packaging) rather than by industry or region.

The Hettema Group, in partnership with Legends, was selected to design and produce the observation deck experience at the World Trade Center in New York City, NY.

For New Yorkers and people around the globe, One World Trade Center is much more than a beautiful skyscraper in Lower Manhattan. It stands as a beacon of hope—a monumental icon of renewal and rebirth, and an enduring testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

One World Observatory is a state-of-the-art guest experience that elevates the One World Trade Center observation deck from a spectacular sightseeing opportunity to an inspirational personal journey.

One World Observatory

The Hettema Group  

All Outstanding Achievement-winning projects will be featured in the Spring 2016 issue of HOW magazine and will be spotlighted on HOWdesign.com. And as International Design Award winners, the Hettema Group creative team receives a $100 gift certificate toward registration for HOW Design Live 2016. See HOWDesignLive.com for event details.

HOW will be accepting entries for next year’s International Design Awards; information is available at HOWdesign.com/design-competitions/international-design-awards/.

About HOW

Founded in 1985, the HOW brand began its life as a print magazine. Today, the brand still includes an award-winning design magazine, but has grown to encompass a host of products and events including several design competitions, HOW U’s online design courses, design books (available at MyDesignShop.com) and more. Whether you work for a design firm, for an in-house creative department or for yourself, it’s our mission to serve the business, creativity and technology needs of graphic designers.

Phil Hettema's Interview with Amy Scott From Marketplace

Amy Scott, with Marketplace, interviewed Phil Hettema, with The Hettema Group, about the challenges involved in developing theme park attractions surrounding the “Hunger Games,” intellectual property. 

Amy Scott poses the question,” If you’re familiar with the "Hunger Games," you know the stories are about children forced to fight each other to the death. How will that translate to a theme-park ride?”

““I think it would be quite challenging,” said Phil Hettema, founder of The Hettema Group, a firm that designs themed attractions. He worked for Disney and Universal Studios for years.”  

““In bringing an intellectual property to life, you need to check the boxes of all of the things that people are most familiar with in that franchise,” he said.”

If you’d like to learn more about the Industry’s thoughts concerning the potential Hunger Games attraction, follow the link below:

"The Hunger Games may ride a new roller coaster" (click here) 

THG Halloween 2015

The Hettema Group took time out of our busy day this past Friday to celebrate Halloween.  The THG Administrative team was kind enough to invite the whole group to a formal gathering of lunch, sweet treats, and a wide spectrum of costumes.

Our casual morning walk to our desks was transformed into a runway of famous Star Wars characters, growling zombies, space cowboys, and the infamous Colonel Sanders.  Around noon the whole team gathered at Happy Trails Catering, in Pasadena, for a delicious lunch and costume competition.  We have to formally thank the Happy Trails staff for behaving as judges that day; we had our employees Keith Kaminski, Nicole Balderrama, and David Lepor, take 1^2t 2^nd and 3^rd prize that day.

Please enjoy some of the images we’ve shared from our Halloween festivities.

3rd Place Winner was David Lepor on the right. 

1st Place Winner - Keith Kaminski 

2nd Place Winner was Nicole Balderrama, on the far left.