Dena Helling

Practice

Multidisciplinary artist, experience designer, and facilitator working at the intersection of art, technology, and community. Practice spans photography, visual storytelling, experiential design, and in-person creative programming.

Philosophy

My work is guided by empathy—paying attention to where people feel friction, exclusion, or fatigue, and designing experiences that feel clearer, generous and more human. Whether facilitating a workshop or shaping a system behind the scenes, I’m interested in how thoughtful structure can create room for creativity, connection and agency driving conversion and brand loyalty. I believe the most meaningful work happens when intention, accessibility, and care are built into the experience, not in retrospect.

Selected Professional Experience

Creative strategy, experiential programming, and cross-functional collaborations with:

• Apple

• Pinterest

• Verizon

• Amazon

• Cruise

• Wing (an Alphabet company)

Selected Projects & Leadership

Founder — Common Ground Craft Club
In-person creative workshops and community activation
Bay Area | 2025–Present

Founder — Sprinkle Party Co.
Event and experiential design studio focused on intentional gathering and modern aesthetic
2022–Present

Creative Strategy — Music & Cultural Programming
Branding, photography, partnerships and creative strategist for urban musicians and cultural institutions
2014–2021

Exhibitions & Features

• Era Art Bar — Resident / Featured Artist

• Monroe SF c/o Trap x Art — Featured Artist

• Oakland Art Murmur — Featured Artist

• Port Workspace Galleries — Featured Artist

• Oakland Artist Collective — Resident Artist

Creative Education & Public Programming

Apple, Today At Apple — Art & Design
Creative Pro, Emeryville, CA
Curated and facilitated live, in-person workshops centered on accessible, hands-on digital tools across art and design, including photo walks and community based experiential programming

Photography & Cultural Documentation

Live music, portraiture, and cultural storytelling across Bay Area and Oahu, HI venues, including:

• Fox Theater Oakland

• 1015 Folsom

• Mezzanine

• Brick & Mortar SF

• Yoshi’s Oakland

• Blue Note Hawai’i

Community & Creative Activations

• Weekly hip hop remix, music video series, “Wake Up Wednesday” sponsored by Oaklandish

• Port Workspaces — First Friday creative programming and East Bay Open Studios

• Community-led workshops and participatory events

• Facilitation focused on connection, accessibility, and shared process

• Oakland Music Festival brand activation