Karen Abe (she/they) is a Hawaiʻi-born media artist, creative producer, and community organizer, who believes in harnessing creativity to drive social impact. With a diverse background spanning video, graphic, and interactive design, Karen crafts compelling narratives that challenge societal norms and spark audience curiosity. With a diverse background spanning video, graphic, and interactive design, Karen crafts compelling narratives that challenge societal norms and spark audience curiosity.

As a 4.0 GPA valedictorian candidate of the University of Southern California's Media Arts + Practice program, Karen leads PROD K CREATIVE as the CEO and Creative Director, where she spearheads multimedia projects that amplify the stories of local businesses and nonprofits. With her strong project management skills, she excels in navigating complex creative initiatives, ensuring that every project runs smoothly from concept to execution. Her ability to push the boundaries of creativity while maintaining clear strategic oversight makes her an effective leader in both artistic and professional environments.

In addition, Karen plays a key role in open-source initiatives— such as her work with the Processing Foundation— where she manages collaborative projects that promote accessibility in design and technology. Karen's passion for research and advocacy is also exemplified through her BA thesis, “A Home: Not Paradise,” and her paper presented at the international ACM CHI conference. The multimedia installation explored critical issues such as settler colonialism, militarism, and tourism in Hawaiʻi.

A testament to her skill and dedication, Karen was awarded an honor for diversity and inclusion from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and was a finalist for the Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment & Technology. Her commitment to her home community has earned her a prominent role in local advocacy, including spearheading multiple environmental bills and being appointed by the Speaker of the House to the inaugural Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission in 2020.