Studio AYS is a creative practice founded by Anya Shcherbakova rooted in community-engaged design with the earth in mind.
With a decade of experience in communications, multi-disciplinary design, project management and community engagement, Studio AYS collaborates with values-driven organizations to give shape to stories through Creative Direction and Consulting.
We specialize in Brand Identity, Communication + Organizational Strategy and Grantwriting for small businesses, industry professionals, political leaders, and nonprofit organizations.
Studio AYS also maintains a social art practice around deepening connection to the spaces we dwell in and increasing access to citizen participation in urban design, equitable development, and participatory planning.
To reach out for project queries or collaborations, email [email protected]
@_studio_ays
For the past decade Anya has worked in multidisciplinary design practices seeking to improve quality of life and lectured on co-design principles that build collective power and solve complex issues. After graduating from VCUarts in Graphic Design and Media Studies in 2015, she joined PLAYLAB, INC. a globally recognized creative studio in NYC, realizing a range of ideas through design, strategy, and production. Recently, she directed programs at Storefront for Community Design, a Richmond nonprofit that increased access to design services and resources and co-taught mOb studio, an experimental design course at VCUarts that pairs students with hands-on experience through community-engaged projects.
Recognitions
Architecture Medal for Virginia Service,
American Institute of Architects Virginia (AIA VA), 2022
Designer in Residence Fellowship, mOb studio 2020-21
Monument Avenue: General Demotion/General Devotion
National Design Competition Winner
Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA 2019
VCUarts Dean’s International Research Grants
Walking with an Awareness of Space, Iceland 2015
Typography as Identity, Basque Country, France 2014
Talks + Press
Practice with Purpose, UVA School of Architecture, Oct, 2024
Richmond Curious: Love Your Community, Gather, Feb, 2024
Design Within Reach, Richmond Magazine, 2020
Artist in Residence at Everybody’s Birthday, Stuart’s Draft, VA 2026
Milking the Grid, Richmond, VA 2023
Poster Pirates, Richmond, VA 2022
HOPE Wall, Richmond, VA 2022
Puppy Jungle, New York Public Libraries (Seward Park), 2019
Grown Up Flowers, Avenue of Americas, NYC 2018
Walking Phoenix, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN 2018
Work in Progress, Storefront for Art/Architecture, NYC 2016
Poster Park with Erik Brandt, mOb studio, Richmond, Va 2015
Teaching + Volunteering
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, Interior Design Adjunct Faculty
Association for Community Design, Events Volunteer
Likeminds Camp NY, Conference Organizer
+POOL, Nonprofit Events Volunteer
Generative Poster Design Workshop, Pratt Institute, 2018
Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, Guest Artist