Svetlana's first interior design project took place in 1998 for her friends while she was working as a visiting psychophysicist at NASA's Ames Research Center in California. By that point, she had already established a successful career in science, having earned her PhD in psychophysics (visual illusions) in 1995, and was ready to explore more practical endeavors.

Raised in a family of an architect and an art historian, Svetlana’s transition into biophysics did not mean abandoning the lessons imparted by her parents. Rather, it provided a unique scientific foundation that influenced her approach to design. She further honed her skills by completing an interior design course at St. Petersburg College of Architecture and Construction, graduating with a First Class degree in Interior Design, which bolstered her confidence.

In 2006, Svetlana and landscape architect Alexander Peresleni co-founded the architectural bureau DesignPortrait®️ (FTS Certificate 78 #005721937). Since then, their studio has created unique "interior design portraits" for developers, private clients, and designers, with a focus on team collaboration.

A key feature of their approach is the use of art objects as the foundation of their projects, combined with a keen attention to color choices. 

Svetlana's work has earned numerous accolades, including the Best Interior Design Apartments in Europe and Russia at the International Property Awards in 2012 for the project Inspired by Landscape. She also received the International Design Biennale MODULOR Silver Diploma in 2009 for her booking office design at the St. Petersburg State Jazz Philharmonic Hall, and the Bronze Diploma in 2007 for the Day & Night wooden bathtub design.