Meet Karen Liniado

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karen Liniado. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with karen below.

Hi Karen, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My work ethic comes from my parents. I grew up in Argentina watching both of them leave early for work and come home late, day after day. They never missed a responsibility, and they taught me the same—whether it was school, work, or any commitment, showing up mattered. Even when I didn’t feel well or wasn’t motivated, they reminded me that discipline would carry me through.

They made enormous sacrifices to give my brothers and me the chance to build a future outside our home country, and I carry that sense of responsibility with me in everything I do. Their example shaped not just how hard I work, but how deeply I care about showing up with purpose.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m an architect, designer, and creative director with a deep love for storytelling through space, objects, and experience. My journey has taken me across disciplines—from working with high-end studios like Kelly Wearstler and Bureau Betak to launching my own jewelry brand, Olive Club, which I co-founded with my best friend from architecture school.

What ties everything together is a passion for craftsmanship, emotion, and detail. Whether I’m designing a physical environment, visualizing a brand world, or creating a piece of jewelry, I aim to make people feel something. I’m endlessly inspired by materials, stone, leather, metal, wood—and how they can be combined in unexpected ways to express identity and emotion.

With Olive Club, we’re creating jewelry that feels personal, symbolic, and timeless. Our pieces are bold yet soulful, drawing from memories, textures, and stories from our shared heritage and travels. We recently launched the KALA collection, which explores the idea of being “eternally legendary”, celebrating women who carry their own power with grace.

Right now, I’m focused on growing Olive Club and continuing to work on creative projects that challenge and excite me, including architectural visualizations, set design, and immersive brand experiences. I love collaborating across disciplines and borders, and I’m always open to connecting with like-minded creatives and brands who value meaning, beauty, and bold ideas.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been adaptability, storytelling, and self-belief.

Adaptability has been essential. I’ve worked across different industries—from architecture and interior design to event production, set design, and now jewelry. Being open to learning new tools, environments, and workflows has helped me stay creative and relevant. For anyone starting out, I’d say: don’t box yourself into one path. Say yes, stay curious, and let your skills evolve across disciplines.

Storytelling is what ties everything I do together. Whether I’m designing a space or a piece of jewelry, I’m always thinking about the emotional impact—what story are we telling, and how does it make people feel? If you’re building a creative career, hone your ability to communicate your ideas clearly and with emotion. People connect with meaning, not just visuals.

And finally, self-belief. Especially as a freelancer and founder, there are many moments where doubt creeps in. I’ve learned to back myself, even when things feel uncertain. My advice: trust your taste, trust your work ethic, and remember that building something meaningful takes time. Keep going—especially when it’s hard.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Absolutely!
I’m always open to collaborations. I love working with people who are passionate, intentional, and unafraid to think differently. Whether it’s creative direction, architectural visualization, set design, or building something new with Olive Club, I’m drawn to projects that feel soulful, bold, and rooted in story.

I especially enjoy working with multidisciplinary teams, brands, artists, designers, photograhers, architects—who value craft and emotion just as much as aesthetics.

If you’re reading this and feel a spark of alignment, I’d love to connect. You can reach me through my website www.karenliniado.com / www.oliveclubhouse.com or on Instagram at @karliniado. Let’s make something beautiful together!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Karen Liniado Studio – www.karenliniado.com
Bureau Betak – Set design
Olive Club – www.oliveclubhouse.com / Photography by Sydney Lean

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