With over two decades of experience in creative and art direction, Joe Elias has shaped a career that bridges studio founding, consultancy, and cultural engagement. Having established his practice in Germany, he now focuses on leading award-winning UX and design projects and advising global clients on creative direction and digital transformation, while remaining actively involved in Beirut’s cultural scene, where he serves on boards across diverse artistic disciplines.

After graduating in Visual Design from Notre Dame University (NDU) in 2001, Elias worked as a visual communicator, art director, and consultant with agencies and clients across the Middle East. His practice spans publication design, typography, branding, animation, and digital experiences.

In 2005, he co-founded Nimslabs, a multidisciplinary design laboratory active in Lebanon and Germany. Its portfolio includes projects for cultural and corporate partners alike—ranging from international festivals, NGOs, and filmmakers to broadcasters, banks, and global brands.

Since 2007, Elias has been teaching and mentoring at LIU/BIU, developing curricula in conceptual design, communication arts, animation, branding, and typography. Over the years, he has held numerous roles, including Coordinator of Design Studies across multiple campuses, while also organizing symposiums, workshops, and research presentations at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He currently serves as Visiting Lecturer and Co-founder/Associate Director at the Institute of Visual Communication (BIU), while also contributing as a guest speaker at the Lebanese University (LU) and as a TED speaker.

In 2013, he co-founded onomatopoeia – the music hub, a non-profit space dedicated to enriching Lebanon’s musical culture. The initiative launched educational programs such as the Music Skills Development Program (MSDP) and hosted performances and talks by local and international musicians, spanning genres from Arabic folk and jazz to electronic and experimental music. Until 2019, Elias was actively involved in shaping and curating the space, after which he stepped back to focus on other projects.

Since 2019, Elias has been an Executive Committee Member & Organizational Consultant for POM (Politics of the Machines), a Copenhagen-based international conference series exploring the intersection of technology, art, and philosophy. His role includes advising on organizational strategy and conference planning.

Today, he works as an Experience Design Lead & Consultant in Germany, where he develops AI-powered, digital, and hybrid (spatial) design solutions. Acting as concept lead, he provides strategic consultancy and tailored problem-solving while delivering large-scale projects across industries—bringing innovation and design excellence to every phase.