Studio Overview

Karow Designs is a Boulder, CO industrial design studio specializing in technical soft goods, material R&D, and product development. Operating at the intersection of technical textiles and structural equipment, the studio collaborates with innovative brands to translate complex concepts into field ready gear. Rooted in real world athletic experience and insights, the studio focuses on solving functional soft goods challenges through thoughtful material selection and intuitive design architecture.

Foundational background research, patent research, concept + form sketching, and flat drawings serve as key cornerstones for every project. The studio pairs these initial phases with advanced digital design and hands on physical development. Technical capabilities span parametric 3D CAD modeling, topology optimization, and digital material rendering using tools like CLO3D, Rhino, nTopology, and Substance Designer, alongside 2D pattern drafting from the ground up. Every project is supported by custom textile R&D with global suppliers and complete factory ready tech packs to ensure design integrity carries through to final production.

Ryan Karow | Founder & Principal Designer

Karow Designs was founded by Ryan Karow, driven by a lifelong involvement in outdoor athletics, custom soft goods fabrication, and technical product design. Based in Boulder, CO, Ryan leads all project strategy and development, working directly with brand teams from initial background research through final factory execution.

Studio Capabilities

Custom Material R&D

Work closely with overseas partners to innovate custom fabrics, laminates, and material layups to optimize weight, performance, and durability in equipment and apparel.
Industrial Design & 3D CAD

Executing complex 3D surface modeling, ergonomic body-mapping, and precise digital pattern geometry tailored for backcountry snowsports, running, and more.
Tech Pack Development

Delivering bulletproof, factory-ready tech packs, complete Bill of Materials (BOM), and exact construction callouts engineered for tier 1 sample rooms.
In House Prototyping

Building physical mockups, refining functional ergonomics, and managing rapid sample revision cycles to ensure seamless transitions from concept to production.
Pattern Making

Experience drafting patterns from the ground up, utilizing a variety of techniques to refine to a final form.
Complex Problem Solving

I excel at solving complex softgoods challenges: seamlessly integrating hard components like batteries and airbags, designing intuitive cinching systems, and engineering intricate seams for production.
Sketching

Hashing out early concepts to technical details via sketching.
Digital Design

Specialize in bringing concepts to life using CLO3D, Rhino, and nTopology, with additional experience in Gerber Silhouette and Substance Designer.