Tio Tepandi was born in Lüganuse, Ida-Viru County and studied in the Institute of Arts in the Chair of Architecture Design from 1966 to 1971.
During the years from 1972 to 1985, she worked together with several well-known cultural figures and producers, including Epp Kaidu, Kaarin Raid, Kaarel Ird, Ülo Vilimaa, Evald Hermaküla, Jaan Tooming, Raivo Adlas and others as an artist-producer in the Tartu theater Vanemuine.
[2] Until 2000 she worked as the Director of Interior Design and Arts in the Estonian National Library (ENL).
During her 6 years in ENL, she designed and planned a multitude of international and national events and art galleries.
She also actively planned and designed and/or redesigned the ENL’s interior visual informational system, banquet halls, furniture and landscaping.