Délio's work is clearly influenced by the context where he was raised. Being the son of a carpenter, he soon got used to the world of furniture, as he spent his childhood days exploring wood at his dad's workshop. When he later had to decide what career to follow, it was clear that industrial design was the only option, a course he conducted at ESAD in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. During his studies Délio also had the chance to participate in an exchange program at the Nottingham Trent University in England, where he delved into the extraordinary context of British furniture and product design, a world that showed him new perspectives he later brought to his own work. 

Before graduating he was already featured in national and international design awards such as Experimenta Design 2003 in Lisbon, and the 2005 Biennale des Jeunes Créateurs de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée in Naples. In his pieces for Tema, Délio explores archetypal forms, conferring a contemporary look to them.