Daily Inspiration: Meet Nicolas Sztabzyb

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicolas Sztabzyb.

Hi Nicolas, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my career in the early 2000s studying Advertising and working at a small agency, where I built a strong foundation in creative thinking and execution. From there, I moved into a below-the-line marketing firm for about three years, which gave me hands-on experience with strategy, campaigns, and close client collaboration.

Later, I joined a large advertising agency, where I spent 2 years working with major brands across categories like beverages and telecommunications. While the exposure and scale were invaluable, the pace and pressure of the big-agency world led to significant burnout. That moment pushed me to reassess what kind of work and life I wanted to build.

In 2007, I decided to step away from large agencies and start my own design studio. I began working from home, slowly building a client base through trust, referrals, and consistent quality. That studio eventually became Sz Studios, with its main office in Buenos Aires and later expanding to Miami and New York.

Since then, I’ve focused on building thoughtful, design-driven work that balances strategy, craft, and long-term relationships, collaborating with clients across industries and geographies while staying hands-on with both thinking and execution.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ha ha, no.

Like many independent studios, the road has been anything but smooth. Over the years, I lost the “big account” that essentially guaranteed payroll three different times (different clients, same lesson). Each time forced tough decisions, quick adaptation, and a lot of rebuilding.

Those moments were stressful, but they also strengthened the studio. I learned how to diversify revenue, avoid over-dependence on a single client, and build more resilient systems around cash flow, team structure, and client mix. Most importantly, I learned how to stay calm under pressure and keep moving forward.

Looking back, those challenges shaped the way I run my business today and made me a far better designer, leader, and problem-solver.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work sits at the intersection of graphic design, branding, and web design, with a strong focus on craft and execution. I’m deeply passion-driven and very hands-on. I care not only about how things look, but how they behave, feel, and perform in real use.

One of the things that sets me apart is that I also code the websites I design. That means there’s no loss in translation between concept and execution. Every spacing choice, transition, hover state, and micro-interaction is intentional and built exactly as designed. I tend to obsess over the small details, especially minimal interactions that elevate the overall experience without calling attention to themselves.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Absolutely. My brother played a fundamental role in the early days of the studio. He co-founded it with me and was instrumental in helping build and grow our initial client base. While I focused primarily on the creative, he brought structure, perspective, and support on the business and relationship side.

Beyond that, I’ve been fortunate to work with clients and collaborators who trusted us early on, recommended our work, and allowed the studio to grow organically through long-term relationships and word of mouth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://szstudios.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sz_studios
• Other: https://www.behance.net/szstudios