We recently connected with Iuliia And Valentina Tambovtseva and have shared our conversation below.
Iuliia and Valentina, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
For us, creativity means freedom; therefore, we feel most creative at times when there is less stress, pressure, and worry in our lives, while there is more time for curiosity, exploration, and adventure. This is a very specific state of mind, which is very hard to keep on a day-to-day basis. That is why, for us, it is very important to find ways to refill the creative energy flow. There are three ways we keep our creativity alive: travel, music, and following other creatives. Travel shakes us out of routine and gives us the opportunity to see the world from a new perspective; music instantly changes our mood and helps us think differently; and following other creatives reminds us that possibilities are endless. Ultimately, these simple routines help us protect the mental freedom and curious mindset necessary to thrive as designers.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
We are Iuliia and Valentina — sisters, dreamers, and designers. Since childhood, we’ve been inseparable, pursuing various projects that sparked our curiosity and fostered a unique bond that now translates into our professional lives as Architectural Designers. Through our architectural studies and subsequent work in the industry, we’ve cultivated diverse perspectives and skills. While we both currently work within established architecture firms, we are constantly striving to define our own design values as professionals and collaborate on creative projects under the name STUDIO VI (Studio Six).
As designers, we are passionate about community-oriented architecture and sustainable design. Our experience is diverse, but our focus remains on creating vibrant public spaces that foster social interaction while minimizing environmental impact through thoughtful design. While our profession is rooted in aesthetics, we believe its true value lies in its ability to enhance people’s lives and positively shape society. Our goal is to be a catalyst for positive change, fostering vibrant communities and sustainable living.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three most valuable insights from our journey that we can share with aspiring designers and architects are the ability to see the bigger picture, patience, and self-belief.
The life of designers is complex and often overwhelming, filled with immediate challenges and small frustrations. This is why learning to see the bigger picture is so important. The greatest growth comes from pulling back from the details of day-to-day events and clearly envisioning the long-term purpose, connecting every small decision to the ultimate story you are trying to create. This means asking, “Where does this challenge fit into my long-term journey?” and understanding that every small, frustrating moment you overcome is actually building the resilience you need to create the best version of yourself.
The second, and perhaps most valuable, quality is patience. It’s the courage to keep showing up, even when results are delayed or don’t turn out as you expected, knowing that the most elegant solutions and the deepest realizations are always worth the time they take to discover.
And finally, self-belief. To live a creative life, you must build a strong internal confidence. There will be many people on your path who question your talent, disagree with your vision, and try to make you feel that your work doesn’t matter. You’ll need to grow a thicker skin and allow your inner self-belief to push you forward, even if nobody else shares your vision.
These three are the most powerful skills designers can develop to stay creative both in their work and life in general.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most valuable and impactful gift we’ve ever received wasn’t a material object, but a lesson teaching us that our greatest strength lies in our shared bond.
When we were kids, growing up side by side and sharing basically everything, we too had our share of childish fights and arguments. But no matter the reason for the disagreement, our mom would always pull us together and give us the same unwavering directive: “You are the closest people you will ever have in this world. You must stick together.”
She taught us that the world outside can be complex and challenging, but the sisterhood we share is our internal support system — and we must keep it strong no matter what. This simple lesson played a monumental role in how we grew up. It meant that even after we fought, we had to show up for each other. When we faced real challenges or life obstacles, we learned to pool our strengths, offer support without judgment, and view each other’s success as our own.
This constant mutual support helped us stay resilient through tough moments, taught us to be empathetic to the needs of others, and revealed the true power of collaboration. These lessons remain fundamental to our vision for STUDIO VI as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://studiosixarchi.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iuliia-tambovtseva
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-tambovtseva
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
