Making Old Things Great Again - TnS Studio
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in architecture but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Taylor Staten, Founder of TnS Studio Inc., located in Chicago, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Based in Chicago, TnS Studio is a design firm serving and saving the South Side. We are Black-Owned and Woman-Powered. We prioritize our work in underserved communities, intending to make a visible impact.
Tell us about yourself
I love taking something old and making it new again, and there are so many old buildings across the South Side waiting to be made new. It brings me joy to be able to transform the neighborhood I grew up in and touch buildings that have been sitting vacant since my childhood. The fact that the North Side looks vastly different (with less abandonment) is always my motivation. The goal is EQUITY, and we get there by DESIGN.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is my work. All of my work. Being very intentional about each project and each client has gained me recognition. But the recognition isn't the accomplishment - it's the work I continue to do each day.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Having to wear all of the hats is the biggest struggle. As a small business, I'm responsible for every aspect of running a firm: I'm the accountant, the quality control manager, the marketing/media coordinator, the project designer, and the software engineer. I have to be everything at all times, and that can get exhausting, but it's the price you pay for autonomy.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure your business is a mixture of what you like and what you're good at; it can't be one or the other but has to be both.
- Do your research. Find out who else is doing what you're doing. Take them to coffee and learn from them.
- Growth comes from evolving. You don't grow by staying the same. So, understand that the business you start with most likely won't be the business you end with.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Representation matters. I didn't know any architects growing up, but I know the importance of visibility. I am always collaborating with local high school students and engaging the youth to show them that architecture and design are options for Black people. And it brings me joy.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.tnstudio.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tnstudioinc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tns.studio/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tns-studio-inc/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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