Profile: Alex Hell |
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About Alex Hell : Alex Hell is a Brazilian designer and co-founder of Studioneves, a ceramic atelier based in Portugal that develops sustainable, handcrafted tableware for the hospitality sector. With a background in events and communication, he transitioned to product design with a focus on environmental impact, material innovation, and practical application in professional kitchens. Since 2019, he has led sustainability initiatives within the company, including its B-Corp certification and the creation of guides to support responsible practices in ceramics and gastronomy. His work contributes to industry-wide discussions on circular design and climate-conscious production models for functional objects.
STATEMENT OF ART:For me, design and art are not separate disciplines. They are ways of seeing and shaping the world with intention, emotion and responsibility. Design solves, art provokes — and great design is always both. When I create, I think about connection: between people and objects, between beauty and function, between aesthetics and ethics.
Studioneves was born from a personal search for meaning — a desire to create something that mattered. After years in the event industry, where so much effort ended in four-hour shows and forgotten stages, I realised I wanted to dedicate my life to something lasting, purposeful and real. Ceramics, with all its unpredictability and honesty, gave me that.
My work is rooted in gastronomy, but what we create goes far beyond tableware. It’s about storytelling. Each piece carries the energy of the maker’s hand, the chef’s creativity, and the diner’s experience. A well-designed plate doesn’t just support the dish — it elevates it. It is silent, but powerful. And it is never neutral.
Since 2019, I’ve led Studioneves’ sustainability revolution. Sustainability, to me, is not a trend — it’s a responsibility. Under my direction, we became the first ceramic studio in Europe to achieve B-Corp certification, with the highest score globally in our category. But certifications aren’t the goal — they are the consequence of living our values.
In this journey, I created the Guia do Ceramista Sustentável (Sustainable Ceramist Guide), a collaborative, transparent manual detailing our practices — from lowering firing temperatures and using solar energy, to promoting ceramic circularity and material recovery.
I also developed the Guia do Restaurante Sustentável, born from the accumulated knowledge of five years running the Studioneves Sustainable Restaurant Award, which honours and maps the concrete environmental actions of Portugal’s most forward-thinking restaurants. These guides are more than publications — they are tools for transformation.
Most recently, this commitment has led to the creation of our new project: Bioplates. After years of observing the widespread use of melamine and porcelain in the outdoor areas of luxury hotels — materials often incompatible with true sustainability — it became clear that a new solution was needed. Bioplates is that solution.
Bioplates are high-durability tableware made from plant-based biopolymers that offer a unique balance between professional performance and environmental responsibility. After use, they biodegrade naturally in soil, river or marine environments, leaving no toxic residue — a true circular product designed with the end in mind.
This project is not a side note — it is the inevitable next chapter in our journey. Because in my view, design must feed the soul, serve people, and respect the planet — all at once.
“Great design should feed the soul — not just the eye.”
ORGANIZATION:
Studioneves
EDUCATION:
2024, Biotechnology Applied to Design, Certificate, University of Aveiro, AVEIRO/PORTUGAL
2009, Corporate Communication, Master’s Degree, EAE Business School, BARCELONA/SPAIN
2006, Marketing, BA, ESPM – Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing, SÃO PAULO/BRAZIL
2004, Art History and French, Certificate, Alliance Française, PARIS/FRANCE
2000, High School, Wishita Public School, KANSAS/USA
EXPERIENCE:
2019–Present, Founder and Designer, Studioneves Gourmet Design, CASCAIS/PORTUGAL
2010–2018, Founder and Designer, Studioneves Gourmet Design, SÃO PAULO/BRAZIL
2009–2010, Commercial Manager, Craft Design, SÃO PAULO/BRAZIL
2009, International Admissions & Communication, ESADE Business School, BARCELONA/SPAIN
2005–2008, Planner and Account Manager (clients: Volkswagen, Motorola), Banco de Eventos Comunicação, SÃO PAULO/BRAZIL
2003–2005, Marketing Analyst – Residential Services, Telefónica S.A., SÃO PAULO/BRAZIL
PRIVATE EXHIBITIONS:
2023, "Functional Craft on the World's Finest Tables", Mirazur, MENTON/FRANCE
2022, "Ceramic Dialogue with Nature and Taste", Hiša Franko, KOBARID/SLOVENIA
2021, "Artisan Pieces in a Two-Star Setting", D.O.M., SÃO PAULO/BRAZIL
2020, "Gastronomy Meets Handmade Precision", El Celler de Can Roca, GIRONA/SPAIN
2019, "The Beauty of Imperfection", Maní, SÃO PAULO/BRAZIL
MIXED EXHIBITIONS:
2023 and 2024, "Homo Faber: The Journey of Human Hands", Michelangelo Foundation, With curated artisans from across Europe, VENICE/ITALY
EVENTS:
2025, "Chefs on Fire", Ceramic Partner – Tableware Design, Winner of Best Portuguese Gastronomic Event, OEIRAS/PORTUGAL
2024, "Residências", Ceramic Partner – Custom Tableware Development, Curated by Chef João Rodrigues, PORTUGAL
2023, "Residências", Ceramic Partner – Custom Tableware Development, Curated by Chef João Rodrigues, PORTUGAL
AWARDS:
2024, Top 10 Most Sustainable Companies, Tranquilidade Sustainability Ranking, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2023, 2nd Place, Luxury Design Award (Europe), GENEVA/SWITZERLAND
PRESS APPEARANCES:
2023, "Cerâmicas de Comer com os Olhos", VISÃO Sete, pages 22–25, June, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2023, "Studioneves: Das Mãos de Gabi e Alex Sai a Loiça em que Comemos", Público, URL: publico.pt, May, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2023, "Studioneves Lança Primeira Coleção Acessível ao Público", Time Out Lisboa, pages 14–15, April, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2022, "Brasileiros Fazem Porcelana para o Melhor Restaurante do Mundo", Folha de São Paulo, URL: folha.uol.com.br, November, SÃO PAULO/BRAZIL
2020, "Studioneves: A Marca Com Cerâmicas Em Restaurantes De Renome", ELLE Portugal, URL: shop.studioneves.com/blogs/news/elle-portugal, September, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2020, "Eles Fazem Loiça em Portugal Para os Melhores Restaurantes do Mundo", Público, URL: shop.studioneves.com/blogs/news/jornal-o-publico, August, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2020, "Os Pratos de Restaurantes Michelin em Sua Casa", Marketeer, URL: shop.studioneves.com/blogs/news/marketeer, July, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2020, "Loiça de Alta-Cozinha Para Todos", Time Out Lisboa, URL: shop.studioneves.com/blogs/news/revista-timeout, July, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2020, "As Loiças Perfeitas Para Quem Preza os Bons Momentos à Mesa", Revista RUA, URL: shop.studioneves.com/blogs/news/revista-rua, July, PORTO/PORTUGAL
2020, "Studioneves Casa. E Se as Loiças do Alma e do Feitoria Lhe Chegassem a Casa?", MAGG, URL: shop.studioneves.com/blogs/news/magg, July, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2020, "As Loiças do Melhor Restaurante do Mundo São Portuguesas e Já as Pode Ter em Casa", NIT.pt, URL: shop.studioneves.com/blogs/news/nit-pt, July, LISBON/PORTUGAL
ACCOLADES:
2022, "Certified B-Corp and BEST OF THE WORLD - Environment", B Lab Europe, LISBON/PORTUGAL
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Portuguese (native)
English (fluent)
Spanish (fluent)
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS:
2022, B-Corp (Certified by B Lab Europe), LISBON/PORTUGAL
2023, Homo Faber Guide – Michelangelo Foundation, VENICE/ITALY
2021, BCSD Portugal (Business Council for Sustainable Development), LISBON/PORTUGAL
2024, Green Key Partner, LISBON/PORTUGAL
COLLECTIONS:
2023, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum Store, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2024, MACAM – Museu de Arte Contemporânea Armando Martins, LISBON/PORTUGAL
2024, Fundação Cultursintra – Fundação Albuquerque, SINTRA/PORTUGAL
HOBBIES:
psychodelic therapy and investigations
CLIENTELE:
More than 100 Michelin Stared restaurants, including:
2019, Maní (Helena Rizzo), Designed and produced bespoke ceramic tableware for this Michelin-starred restaurant in São Paulo, BRAZIL.
2020, D.O.M. (Alex Atala), Created custom high-durability ceramic pieces for daily use at the two-star Michelin restaurant in São Paulo, BRAZIL.
2020, Oteque (Alberto Landgraf), Developed exclusive handcrafted plates tailored to the tasting menu experience, Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL.
2021, Hiša Franko (Ana Roš), Supplied bespoke tableware enhancing visual storytelling at the two-star Michelin restaurant in Kobarid, SLOVENIA.
2022, Mirazur (Mauro Colagreco), Designed unique ceramic pieces for the three-star Michelin restaurant, integrating with the chef’s vision, Menton, FRANCE.
2022, Alma (Henrique Sá Pessoa), Delivered custom-designed ceramics for the one-star Michelin restaurant in Lisbon, PORTUGAL.
2023, Eleven, Created a durable and elegant ceramic set for a Michelin-starred dining room in Lisbon, PORTUGAL.
2023, Encanto (José Avillez), Produced exclusive pieces to match the plant-based concept of the restaurant, Lisbon, PORTUGAL.
2024, Six Senses Douro Valley, Designed custom eco-conscious ceramics for the hotel’s fine dining service, Lamego, PORTUGAL.
2024, Coya, Produced tailored pieces aligned with the global brand’s vibrant and contemporary aesthetic.
WEB SITE:
www.studioneves.com
RSS URL:
https://www.instagram.com/studioneves/
REGISTRATION DATE:
2025-04-05 07:33:05
COUNTRY/REGION:
Portugal
ACCOUNT TYPE:
Enterprise
Awards received by Alex Hell
| Bioplates Biodegradable Tableware Silver A' Design Award Winner for Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design Category in 2024 Alex Hell for Studioneves |
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