An award-winning social scientist & media artist working across creative agency leadership, studio arts, and academia.
Specialising in global semiotics, cultural studies, and subcultures, her thinking has been featured in Vogue, Dazed, i-D, Creative Review, Forbes, BBC, and more.
Formerly an international lecturer and ESRC Fellow, she has been in research and strategy leadership at various creative and cultural intelligence agencies including Flamingo (Omnicom), The Digital Fairy, and Iris Worldwide (Cheil Group).
She is currently Head of Creative Intelligence at Nuevo (HH Global), and Founder of Studio Doctrine in London, UK. Her clients have included Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, LVMH, Campari Group, Apple, Samsung, Google, Meta, and many more.
Her work in creative research & strategy runs parallel to her ongoing studio arts practice. Her media works and artist books have been funded by juried bodies such as the Canada Council for the Arts; exhibited in Toronto, New York, Vancouver, and Vienna; and collected in Rare Books and Special Collections at various universities, including Harvard, Princeton, and UofT.
Karen is a Portuguese-Canadian from Toronto and lives in the UK. She rides a motorcycle and is usually raving or hiking at any given moment.
She is currently Head of Creative Intelligence at Nuevo (HH Global), and Founder of Studio Doctrine in London, UK. Her clients have included Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, LVMH, Campari Group, Apple, Samsung, Google, Meta, and many more.
Her work in creative research & strategy runs parallel to her ongoing studio arts practice. Her media works and artist books have been funded by juried bodies such as the Canada Council for the Arts; exhibited in Toronto, New York, Vancouver, and Vienna; and collected in Rare Books and Special Collections at various universities, including Harvard, Princeton, and UofT.
Karen is a Portuguese-Canadian from Toronto and lives in the UK. She rides a motorcycle and is usually raving or hiking at any given moment.
nuevo: (hh global)
Head of Creative IntelligenceIntelligence & Innovation Consultancy
An intelligence and innovation practice focused on growth and the real world. I lead the Creative Intelligence team and lead our global intelligence work.
Working Worldwide, team based in London, UK, and New York, USA
Working Worldwide, team based in London, UK, and New York, USA
studio doctrine
Founder & Semioticiansemiotics & culture consultancy
An experiential creative lab and consulting studio. We provide expert-led bespoke global consulting services spanning semiotics, subcultural research, brand strategy, and art direction. Books are currently full and closed until January 2026.
London, UK
Los Angeles, USA
New York, USA
London, UK
Los Angeles, USA
New York, USA
very tender studio
Founder & Publisher
publishing & printmaking
publishing & printmaking
Established in 2017, Very Tender is an artist-led print media studio and publishing house that has exhibited in Toronto & New York. It’s the UK continuation of the CCA-awarded publishing house Steel Bananas (2008-2018), founded by da Silva in Canada.
V22 Crown Close Studios, London, UK
Private Studio in Cornwall, UK
V22 Crown Close Studios, London, UK
Private Studio in Cornwall, UK
priestess projects
Chain Maiden
metalwork wearables
metalwork wearables
Established in 2023, Priestess is a metalwork devotional practice, specialising in stainless steel chainmail wearables.
Nothing is ever for sale.
V22 Hither Green Studios, London, UK
Private Studio in Cornwall, UK
Nothing is ever for sale.
V22 Hither Green Studios, London, UK
Private Studio in Cornwall, UK
© 2026