In this month’s article we showcase a Landscape Designer that uses outsourced 3D in their Landscape Design business.
Case Study
Fluid Design is a design only business serving Brisbane and Sydney residential markets. Its focus is on the more boutique mid to high end projects with an emphasis on bespoke design and attention to detail.
How did your design business operate before outsourcing your 3D?
In the early days, we would only ever present our designs in 2D. We have always provided a comprehensive set of drawings both at Concept and Final Drawing stages. However, knowing how much some of our clients were going to be spending on their landscape project, I wanted to make sure they knew exactly what they were getting. I found that a lot of them just couldn’t visualise what it was going to look like from a 2 dimensional plan.
I wanted to assist clients from a visual perspective and to stay at the forefront of Landscape Design with a point of difference. So, I decided to learn how to use 3D software and present my designs in 3D to accompany the 2D concept plan. It was a steep learning curve and it took a lot of time away from the actual designing, which is where my best value is, however I immediately saw the difference it made when presenting to clients.
Once I became quite good and efficient at 3D and the business grew I then employed someone else in house to do the 3D rendering for me. This was great when I was super busy, but I found that the workflow was not always consistent. We tended to have a bunch of projects at concept stage, which is when we needed the 3D, then as they moved towards final drawings, there was no 3D required. It meant I was paying someone to sit around with no work to do, which became frustrating and chewed up the profit. I spent more time trying to keep them busy instead of working on new designs and focusing on growing and managing the business.
How did Pitch Box help?
When I discovered I could outsource the 3D to a locally based company and only pay when I needed it, it was a game changer for me. It solved my problem of continually having to find work for my team. I didn’t have to worry about all the HR stuff that comes with hiring someone in house either.
Now when I have projects ready for 3D, I can just submit them to Pitch Box in about 5 minutes. I know there is a team of people able to work on all my projects at once and have them back to me within 1 week to review.
The online ordering system is great as I often submit projects on the weekend or after hours when it is convenient.
When we submit a project for 3D we submit 2 separate plans:
1. A concept plan with the design layout, labelling and levels only.
2. We then switch the plant graphics and plant labels on, with finishes images, plant images and inspo pics of particular items added onto the plan.
If you can submit this level of info you will get a great result.
If you provide vague and a poor level of info, the Pitch Box team will do the best they can however it won’t be as great of a result……the better the info we provide the better the result is my mantra!!
It’s a really easy to use system and after the first 2 projects you will get the hang of it, know what to do, what is expected and it will be really quite quick from your end.
After – What does the design process look like now?
We’ve been using Pitch Box for 3D for 3 years now. I still get so excited when the team send the first draft through as I just can’t wait to see what each design looks like in 3D. It’s honestly the most exciting part of the design process aside from seeing it built. It just happens much quicker than building!
Once you have some sample 3D images of projects to show clients at a consult it becomes a very easy sell. Its even easier to sell the construction as they can see exactly what it will look like once completed and easier for people to justify the expense of the install. It changes the conversation from “how much is this all going to cost…..to how soon do you think building can start”.
About Pitch Box
Pitch Box is a low cost, fast solution that delivers quality 2D Plans and 3D Visuals of your designs when you need it.
Providing professional 2D CAD plans and realistic 3D images, and fly-throughs, to residential designers so you can provide that high end service or improve capacity without the need to hire in-house staff. Ultimately allowing you to be more productive and more profitable.
The company prides itself on exceptional customer service, with a dedicated customer support team based in Brisbane, Australia. Delivering high quality products with a guaranteed project completion turnaround time of only 5 – 10 business days. Unlike many external service providers, Pitch Box’s pricing is transparent and competitive. Our customers know exactly what they are getting, each and every time they place an order. Discover more about how Pitch Box can support your business and place your order by visiting our website today!
