Speakers

Design leader turned educator with 25+ years of industrial experience with a passion for creating real-world opportunities supporting young designers in shaping their early careers.

Karen commenced her career working in a consultancy in Canada in 1992, alongside an international team of designers. Returning to the UK, she went on to lead the design and human factors department for Bombardier Transportation: an appointment that defined the integration of Human Factors in rolling stock for the London underground trains. Her interest in the built environment then translated into a role with Tesco Property, becoming the Head of Design, shaping the transformation of the retail environment and footprint for the future. After this, she moved into an appointment to lead new business for an Architectural/brand agency in London.

In 2020, her career came full circle to return to product design to share her extensive experience, breadth and depth of knowledge across sectors of transportation, built environment, retail and consumer products. She shares her commercial awareness in her role as employability lead and Senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, within the department of Product Design.