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Founders & Friends
Founders & Friends is where interior designers and creative entrepreneurs come for real conversations about building a business—and a life—that feels good.
Hosted by a designer-turned-founder, each episode dives into honest, behind-the-scenes stories from industry leaders, creative thinkers, and bold business owners who are shaping the design world on their own terms. We talk about the big wins, the hard lessons, the financial truths, and the messy middle of entrepreneurship.
Whether you're just starting out or scaling something big, this podcast is your reminder that you're not doing it alone—and that success can look a lot of different ways.
Come for the insights, stay for the community. This is Founders & Friends—where business gets personal, and conversations get real.
Founders & Friends
32. From Graduation to Founder: Abbey's Barbays Journey Through Entrepreneurship
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In this episode of Founders and Friends, Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Abbey Barbay, founder of Abbey’s Creative Designs and a Vetted by Design pro specializing in 3D renderings for interior designers.
Abbey shares how she launched her business just weeks after graduating from Louisiana State University, following an unexpected discovery during design school: a deep passion for the technical and problem-solving side of 3D modeling and rendering. While many designers gravitate toward selections and styling, Abbey found her excitement in building detailed digital spaces that allow clients to visualize a project before construction begins.
Ronniesha and Abbey dive into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into realistic renderings, from perfecting lighting and materials to mastering programs like Chief Architect, SketchUp, and D5 Render. They also discuss why renderings have become a powerful communication and marketing tool for designers—helping clients better understand design concepts and giving contractors a clearer visual reference.
Abbey opens up about the less glamorous side of entrepreneurship, including navigating pricing, contracts, invoicing, and the business systems required to run a creative company. She shares how she structures her rendering services, her process for working with designers, and how outsourcing renderings can help designers save time while elevating their presentations.
Looking ahead, Abbey shares her long-term vision of launching a nonprofit that builds homes for families in need, blending her passion for design, construction, and community impact.
This episode is packed with insight for designers curious about renderings, outsourcing, and building a niche business in the design industry.
You can connect with abbey:
https://abbeyscreativedesigns.com/
https://www.instagram.com/abbeyscreativedesigns
This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by Design
If you are looking to outsource anything in your design business check out Vetted by Design to find some amazing highly vetted pros you can trust to help you grow your business.
www.vetted-bydesign.com
https://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/