About

A creative director who believes a brand should feel quiet at first and stay for years.

Lisbon, Portugal
Since 2014

Lisbon, Portugal
Since 2014

Elio Varga in profile, in the dark of the studio

I grew up in Lisbon between my father’s print shop and the Tagus, and I still design the way he set type: slowly, by hand first, with the light on the paper.

Before opening Studio Halden in 2023 I led design at Northfold in Copenhagen and spent three years at Atelier Moss in Paris. Today the studio is four people and a long table, working with a few clients a year so each one gets the whole of us.

I teach a typography course at the Lisbon School of Arts every spring, and I answer every email myself.

(Clients)

Maison Ardent

Lumen Botanics

Nami Spa

Cala Juice Co.

Ostra Records

Museu Arte Nova

Halden Paper

Atlas Ceramics

Norte Films

(Experience)

2023 to now

Studio Halden

Creative Director

Lisbon

2023 to now

Studio Halden

Creative Director

Lisbon

2019 to 2023

Northfold

Design Lead

Copenhagen

2019 to 2023

Northfold

Design Lead

Copenhagen

2016 to 2019

Atelier Moss

Senior Designer

Paris

2016 to 2019

Atelier Moss

Senior Designer

Paris

2014 to 2016

Independent

Designer

Lisbon

2014 to 2016

Independent

Designer

Lisbon

(Press)

2025

Forma Quarterly

The quiet brand, an interview

Print

2025

Forma Quarterly

The quiet brand, an interview

Print

2024

Index Design Annual

Solar Bloom, selected work

Book

2024

Index Design Annual

Solar Bloom, selected work

Book

2024

The Long Brief

Designing for one colour

Podcast

2024

The Long Brief

Designing for one colour

Podcast

2022

Northern Light Journal

Studio visit, Lisbon

Online

2022

Northern Light Journal

Studio visit, Lisbon

Online

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