Oliver Helf studied architecture at the Hamburg University of Fine Arts and Fine Art at the Oxfordshire College of Art & Design. He subsequently completed a degree in costume design under Dirk von Bodisco in Hamburg. During his studies, he worked within the independent dance and theatre scenes of Hamburg and Amsterdam, creating installations and performances. He received his diploma for the stage and costume design of the world premiere of Jörn Arnecke’s opera “Butterfly Blues” at the Hamburg State Opera. Since 2008, he has worked as a freelance stage and costume designer for theatre, opera, ballet, and dance productions both in Germany and internationally. Among others, he has collaborated with Stephan Kimmig, Martin Laberenz, and Lisa Nielebock. His work has been invited to events such as the Berlin Theatertreffen and the Heidelberg Stückemarkt and has been nominated for the German theatre award Der Faust. From 2013 to 2018, he served as Head of Design at the German National Theatre Weimar.