You found this place for a reason.

Maybe it was a post that stopped your scroll. Maybe you saw something and thought — that's me. That's exactly what this is for.

Who I Am

My name is Karen Sawyer. I have a double major in psychology and design, and I've spent 41 years in design, production, and studio ownership — since 1985, the year the first Mac was released. I've also spent years as a national leader in motivational ability assessment — the science of understanding what makes a person uniquely, powerfully them.

That combination isn't accidental. It's everything.

Why This Exists

True Design by Karen isn't a store in the traditional sense. It's a collection of products built around one idea: that the things you surround yourself with should make you feel seen.

Not just useful. Not just pretty. SEEN.

You Are Not Generic. Neither Is This.

I've spent decades studying what makes people who they are. I bring that lens to everything I curate. When you find something here that feels like it was made for you — it's because, in a very real way, it was.

Welcome. You belong here.

— Karen Sawyer, Founder, True Design by Karen

Follow the journey on Instagram: @karen_a_sawyer | Facebook: True Design by Karen