About Us

Inkwell Helmets was founded by artist Danielle Baskin in efforts to transform the dull bicycle helmet into a unique fashion accessory, conversation piece, and work of art. Each helmet is painted by hand by Danielle and shipped out all over the world.

Our Team

Danielle Baskin, CEO, Founder, Painter

Since 2009, Danielle has personally designed and painted several thousand customers' helmets. Initially created as a way to camouflage her helmet by painting it to look like the sky, Danielle has since developed hundreds of unique helmet designs. She's an enthusiast of wrap-around images, optical illusions, bikes as transportation, bicycle safety, modifiable objects, and science education that you can wear on your head. She holds a BFA from New York University where she studied Art and Psychology and also has many other artistic practices, including building displays for mobile ads on tricycles (Peddler Pop-Ups), and making virtual reality models of abandoned buildings (Last Chance Tours). She wears mostly one of three helmets: the blue sky (the first helmet), the homunculus diagram, or the M.C. Escher Sphere.

Danielle Baskin painting helmets

Commonly Asked Questions

Why are your individual designs sold out?

We're busy working on a new project! So there's a waitlist for helmets right now. Please inquire about a particular design if you're interested in one. And join our mailing list to be the first to know about our new project.

Can you create custom bulk helmets for my company?

Yes! Examples of my branded helmets are here. Reach out if you have any questions. (The sooner the better as there can be a long lead time depending on the season.)

Can you paint on motorcycle helmets, ski helmets, or snowboard helmets? Yes, I can paint them, but I cannot provide the helmets themselves. If you're able to purchase one and ship it to me, then please get in touch about a painting request by emailing info@inkwellhelmets.com.

Can you paint anything? I'm happy to work with abstract concepts or specific ideas to create something custom. If you have no clue what sort of design you want, but still want something awesome, please send an email to Danielle directly at danielle@inkwellehelmets.com to start a conversation.

I still can't decide what I want on my helmet. Contact us for style suggestions. We have a long list of design ideas that are yet-to-be-made.

Do Citibike or bike share members get a discount? You do! We offer 10% off any helmet for Citibike members. Have a different bike share program in your city? We'll honor that too. Use the discount code BIKESHARESAFE at checkout.

Is painting a helmet safe? Yep! SGS Consumer Testing Services has approved that applying material to helmets is safe as long as its surface is able to skid and no corrosive materials are used. I use non-toxic Acrylic paints and water-based varnishes on ASTM & CPSC-certified bike helmets. In any case, helmets should be used only for about 5 years and should not be re-used after an impact... although after you stop wearing your helmet, you might want to keep it forever as an interesting object.

Can I try the helmets on or see them in person? Our list of retailers is here, but the helmets are often sold out. It's best to send us the circumference of your head, and we can figure out the best sizing. You're also welcome to schedule an appointment with Danielle for a custom fitting at her studio in the Mission in San Francisco.

Who paints and designs the helmets? Inkwell Helmets are all hand-painted and designed by the company founder Danielle. But we may be hiring more painters and assistants soon. Would you like to work with us? Send us an email and we'll keep you posted on job opportunities.

How often do you add new designs? Every few weeks. Keep checking back, or follow us @inkwellhelmets on Instagram.

Can you design custom helmets for my organization? Yes. In addition to our helmet art pieces, we're able to create custom designs in bulk (quantities of 200+). Contact us for pricing. Our specialty is coming up with beautiful artwork on quality helmets. It's great ad space. Here's an example of a helmet I created for Worker B, a hand-crafted (beehive-based) skincare products company from Minneapolis, painting a twist on our honeycomb design and incorporating their logo. We've done helmets for Reebok, Stanford University, Mrs. Meyers Soap, and more. There's many more examples of our custom branded work here.

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