Karen Herold may have earned her degree in fashion design, but she quickly realized it was hospitality design for which she was truly passionate. She landed a job at 555 International, building an impressive resume of clients over 13 years, including Hugh Hefner, Michael Morton and Steve Wynn. She also earned widespread acclaim for her design of one of Chicago’s most popular restaurants, Girl & the Goat.
Herold received a number of awards for her accomplishments at 555, including the Jean Banchet Award for Best Restaurant Design and Time Out Chicago’s Delta Burke Award for Best Designing Woman. In 2014, Herold opened her own multidisciplinary creative house, Studio K, where she has continued to design restaurants, bars and residences. She has worked with some of Chicago’s biggest powerhouses including BOKA Restaurant Group, Sterling Bay and the Chicago Cubs, and is currently designing the new Nobu hotel and restaurant in the Windy City.
Watch as Herold discusses the importance of making a restaurant a true reflection of its chef:
