Rita Olivença is a fashion designer, costume designer, teacher and researcher. She has a degree in Fashion Design Architecture from FA-UTL (2006) and completed a Master’s degree in Graphic Design at ESAD.CR, on the subject of Circus Visual Communication – the digital capture of movement as a tool for graphic design. The research focuses on circus visual communication and aims to explore the spatio-temporal capture of the circus performer’s body in order to create a visual representation of movement (https://pcd.fba.up.pt/2024/; https://ritaolivenca.github.io/circo-semaforo/).
The PhD student has worked in several design studios, theatre companies, was co-founder of DAR- Design Advanced Resources, a non-profit association that implemented Fablab Caldas da Rainha (textile workshop, interaction, 3d and DIY tools) and was a costume teacher at Chapitô circus school for 11 years.

Rita is currently a PhD student, researching the use of wearable artifacts in circus performance, that can be extended to other performing arts.