After studying at the Technical University of Delft for two years, Frank Tjepkema graduated in 1996 from the Design Academy Eindhoven. Following this he obtained an MA degree in 1998 from the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam.

Tjepkema established Tjep in Amsterdam in 2001. The studio constitutes a small team that works on projects varying from lamps, vases, jewellery and furniture, to brand identities and interiors for the likes of Droog, Ikea, British Airways and Heineken. Tjep has twice won the Dutch Design Award.