At the age of eighteen, Alex Akopova moved from her native Brooklyn, NY, to Pasadena, CA, to study Environmental Design at ArtCenter College of Design. As a student at ArtCenter, Akopova designed across many disciplines including exhibitions, hospitality, sustainability and interior environments. Akopova’s diverse bicoastal cultural experiences provide inspiration for her designs.

In 2015, Akopova designed and built a scale model of a sustainable garden shed with a hydroponic wall and drip irrigation system. The concept design was presented during Dwell on Design Los Angeles with the potential for funding for public use.