studio as storytelling — where graphic language and material experimentation come together to give stories shape of objectsgraphic designweb3D

About

Joana de Sousa (b. 1992) is a multidisciplinary designer and ceramic artist whose creative thinking bridges the gap between tradition and technology. With a deep curiosity and a drive to experiment, she seeks innovative, meaningful ways to tell stories — whether through clay, code, colour, or composition.

Her practice spans graphic design, web design, photography, 3D design, and ceramics, with a strong focus on process and material exploration. Joana works across stoneware, faience, and porcelain, using slab building, rolling, and casting techniques to create sculptural and functional pieces. She also formulates and applies her own glazes, explores raku and crystallisation firings, and brings surface decoration to life through stencils, silkscreen, engobes, pigments, and lusters.

Alongside her hands-on ceramic practice, she navigates the digital realm with fluency — from 3D modelling and 3D printing in resin, porcelain, and filament, to web and interface design. Her toolbox also includes laser cutting, CNC milling, and a sharp eye for photography and image editing.

Joana holds a degree in Marketing and Advertising, and a Master’s in Graphic Design from ESAD.cr. Her work is driven by a fascination with traditional techniques and artistic movements, reimagined through a minimalist, contemporary, and tech-infused lens. Whether designing a mural, a digital experience, or a ceramic object, she brings a cohesive and original voice — rooted in craft, shaped by technology, and fueled by curiosity.