When Erik Heisholt, executive creative director and founder of Oslo-based Heisholt Inc., was a featured speaker at the 2021 World Meeting of ICOM, one of the world’s largest networks of independent advertising and marketing communication agencies, the stars aligned.
ICOM members were so impressed with his “Think Inside the Box” approach with clients that they wanted to invite him to join on the spot. In his presentation, he explained in an amusing and entertaining way why he disagrees with the idea of the cliched, “Thinking OUTSIDE the Box” as the best way to talk to clients.
“We were looking to add creative talent across our network,” said ICOM Executive Director Emma Keenan. “Erik appeared at exactly the right time. Since we did not have an agency member in Norway, it was a no-brainer. His creative input and impressive credentials will benefit both the network as a whole as well as individual agency members. His presentation demonstrated what creativity is all about better than anything I’ve ever seen.”
Heisholt felt the same vibe: “I instantly felt that I met with friends and soulmates, a diverse group of fantastic talented persons and companies. It was only natural that we joined ICOM, and I can’t wait to get started and create wonderful work.”
Using a single, simple small white box as a visual shown in a variety of configurations to indicate everything depends on how one sees a box, Heisholt explained his thinking: “Most people are afraid and uncomfortable outside their own comfort zone. My approach is to say we don’t ‘come up’ with any new thing. We simply identify what is there already, which we and you, the client, are going to find together.” He continues: “This is all comfortably within reach ‘inside your box.’ At that point, they usually sigh in relief. And then, I add, ‘we’re going to challenge the content ‘in’ the box.”
Prior to founding Heisholt Inc., as a small creative agency in 2015 with Executive Creative Producer Terese Aalborg, an accomplished and award-winning photographer, film director, and producer, Heisholt spent the past three decades creating a harmonious blend of marketing, strategy, cultural experiences, big ideas, and beautifully crafted words, stories, and images at some of the world’s best known creative multinationals. That resulted in award-winning work, including for worldwide iconic brands, among them adidas, Carlsberg, Coca-Cola, Johnnie Walker Red Label, Nissan, Scandinavian Airlines, Visa, VW.
One of the most highly awarded creative minds across Scandinavia, Heisholt is the recipient of two Grand Prix Lions at Cannes and multiple golds, silvers and bronzes as well as recognition at the One Show, Clio, Cresta, D&AD, Epica, Eurobest, LIAA awards and others. He has given back to the industry by serving as a juror at many of them.
His credentials include becoming the youngest at age 33 to receive Norway's lifetime achievement award, the Golden Pencil; and the first agency to create a live concert inside the game Minecraft. The work gained global attention for client Universal Music and also led to Heisholt Inc. being the smallest agency ever to win Agency of the Year at Norway’s biggest digital award show, The Golden Tag. Another of his especially proud moments came with winning the first ever Grand Prix Lion in Outdoor for the Oslo Piercing Studio, also a first in that the Studio was the smallest client ever awarded a Grand Prix Lion.
“In all my years as a creative and creative director I have been driven by the joy of collaboration,” Heisholt said. “Very early in my career I started challenging what seemed to be the rule, that a creative team was made up of only two people, the copywriter and art director. To be honest, I found that boring, and tried to facilitate bigger and more diverse groups to discuss and solve creative challenges. Nobody ‘owns’ the creative process. More different discussions lead to different, better and more creative solutions.”
Heisholt's joining of ICOM was featured in Norway’s largest premium marketing publication - Kampanje (Campaign).
ABOUT ICOM
ICOM is among the world’s largest and most geographically diverse networks of independent agencies offering advertising, marketing communications, media, digital and related services, with 70-plus member agencies in 50-plus countries. The network empowers global collaboration and brings people around the world closer to brands through connected thinking. Annual gross income exceeds US$500 million.
ABOUT HEISHOLT INC.
Oslo-based Heisholt Inc. is a small creative agency built on close, honest, and energetic collaboration with clients who like shorter meetings, a faster process—and big results. It’s a place where the “Inc.” stands not for “Incorporated” but for “Including.”
MEDIA CONTACTS
• Emma Keenan, ICOM executive director
emma@icomagencies.com, +33 6 63 48 01 37
• Nancy Giges, ICOM media relations director
nancy@icomagencies.com, 1-914-683-5108