We create brands that stand out.
Branding, design + strategy – all built around you.
From full brand identities to websites to one-off print or digital pieces, every project is crafted around your needs and guided directly by Jen Stern, founder and creative director.
Jen is your designer, main point of contact, and strategic partner from start to finish. She loves what she does and stays hands-on with every client, ensuring a seamless experience — and brings in expert collaborators behind the scenes when the project calls for it.
No account managers. No handoffs. Just smart, personal creative.
“You have always had the best designs/branding. As Steve said back when, “Tiffany of designers.”
– L. Shapiro, Philadephia, 2025Cutting-edge creative.
Personal attention.
Jen Stern launched 452 Design in 2003 to meet a clear need for premium design without the overhead, inflated pricing, or layers of a traditional agency. At 452, clients work directly with Jen — the designer actually doing the work.
You’ll work one-on-one with Jen from start to finish. When needed, she brings in trusted collaborators — but always under her direction, to keep the process seamless and focused.
From branding and websites to digital and print, Jen is committed to getting it right — every time.
"I have worked with Jen Stern over a period of 16 years. The reasons for this lengthy collaboration, apart from her obvious talent, are that Jen listens to her clients, establishes a clear idea of what they want and are trying to accomplish and integrates the clients’ vision into a finished and polished product or material."– D. S., Los Angeles, 2022 
Introducing 452 / ZX Collab
As a creative extension of the studio — and just because I love designing — I launched a curated merch capsule under the 452 / ZX Collab umbrella. It’s minimalist, design-led gear for fans of clean graphics, typography, and Philly pride.