Tom Karen Libros

Toy inventor and designer Tom Karen recounts his colourful and creative life through the objects and mementos that have come to define it

Creativity and resilience define Tom Karen's life, a renowned toymaker and designer known for iconic inventions like the Marble Run and Raleigh Chopper bike. Raised in a wealthy Czechoslovakian family, his childhood was marked by loneliness and upheaval as they fled Nazi Germany. Settling in the UK, Tom transformed his experiences into a prolific career, earning the title 'the man who designed the seventies.' This narrative explores how his imaginative designs reflect a century of creativity, shaping identity and inspiring future generations.