Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Bills.
Hi Natalie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
New View Design was created when a husband and wife duo decided that there weren’t enough visual aids in the home design world. Both Adam and I (Natalie) had received education and work experience in the home design/interior design field and noticed a pattern of clients asking for additional resources to understand what the design would look like. We were working with clients who have little or no understanding of architectural jargon, or how to read plans and technical drawings, so we sought a way to help.
In 2017, there was a growing excitement in the Virtual Reality world, and we were a part of it. We were obsessed with the idea that you could virtually walk through your space, and sought to find a way to use that in the architecture realm because we knew it would be a game-changer for our clients. Adam went to work researching different programs, video game building engines, and architectural design programs to try and come up with a way to make it happen. He ended up using several different programs combined to give us our first custom home interior virtual walk-through.
As he and I grew more excited about the opportunities of this new technology, he decided to work extra hours after his work at a home design firm, to make it into a business. Over time, both he and I decided to take the jump and combine our skills into our own business of Interior Design and rendering services. The rest is history. Our business has grown substantially in the few years we have been in business, and our skills are ever-expanding.
We now offer some of the most realistic interior and exterior renderings on the market and have worked with high-profile clients all across Utah. We are super happy with how far we have come, and look forward to what the future will bring.
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?
There were certainly challenges that we faced along the way. One of the most upsetting for us initially was the reaction that people had to our idea of Virtual Reality renderings. We would be marketing at the Parade of Homes with our HTC Vive headset, and tv monitor- ready to get people excited about this new technology. I can’t tell you how many times we were brushed aside, laughed at, and not taken seriously.
So many people thought we were just a couple of kids playing video games and didn’t take time to understand what we were offering. We also were discouraged by high-profile builders and designers in the industry saying that this was a fad and that people didn’t need renderings in order to get a house built. We were trying to help them understand that it could make their lives-and the client’s lives- much easier, with fewer change orders, and more satisfaction with the results of their build.
Being new entrepreneurs was also strenuous in our lives – as Adam and I had both quit our safe full-time jobs to pursue this dream. It wasn’t easy to get new clients; establish relationships with people who could potentially send business, or get people to trust in a couple of young adults. Lots of people in the industry already had good relationships with other design teams and didn’t want to risk their image by using us.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
New View Design was based on the idea that there are new and different ways available to help clients understand their designs. We are different from other design firms, in that we don’t have an agenda for the designs we create – other than that the clients will be most happy with the results.
So we use our renderings, to help clients make changes much earlier on in the process of building or remodeling their homes. They can see their ideas, make dramatic changes, and test out some unique ideas in a virtual world. It’s pretty common for clients to misunderstand certain aspects of their design, which can lead to expensive change orders; costly repairs or re-dos; or overall regret that it was too late to change.
We love being able to have such a unique opportunity to help our clients understand their designs, and work with our clients in a more collaborative way – so that it truly does reflect their hope and desires for the space. We take charge of the selection process and help the builders that we work with to get them the information they need to execute a well-thought-out design without losing time in the decision process.
Other designers in the industry have a specific style that they are known for; and if you as a client don’t fit in that mold, then you need to adjust, or hire someone else. I love that we have a variety of styles of design projects that we get to work on. It’s exciting for a creative mind to have the opportunity to switch from French Country style to Mid Century Modern, and then to Ultra Contemporary, and every style in between.
It’s a joy to work with our clients and to become friends over time. Some projects we’ve worked on have lasted several years – as we get to start with the renderings and help them through to the final build of their homes. It’s all very rewarding. I feel that being a designer gives me purpose, is an outlet for my creativity and brings variety to my life. I love what we do!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I have enjoyed being a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), where I can learn from other designers and create relationships with subs and vendors in the industry.
Word of mouth travels faster than online marketing, and so it really does help to make friends with other people in the industry, and eventually, you will see that they are talking about you to other builders they work with, or they have a client that could use your services.
You don’t need to be a member of any society or organization to make friends in the industry though. It’s just a little easier when you are all in the same room together. Haha.
Otherwise, I’ve had mentoring experiences with other seasoned designers that I’ve interned with as a student. Also, I follow others on social media who motivate and inspire me in life, business, and design.
Contact Info:
- Email: admin@newviewdesignvr.com
- Website: www.newviewdesignvr.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/newviewdesignvr
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/newviewdesignvr/_saved/
