Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elizabeth Rishel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elizabeth, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

What makes Orion Design unique is that all of the designers that make up our team have earned degrees in the design field. We are also unique in that we offer a service based business instead of focusing on selling products. Our goal is to implement a design that best fits our clients and then to seek out the materials, finishes, and products that achieve this goal.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I grew up in Wyoming and Nebraska. For as long as I can remember I was interested in interior design. So, when it was time to get my degree, I pursued an Interior Design degree with the University of Nebraska Kearney. With that and a few design awards under my belt, I headed out east and took a job at a kitchen and bath showroom in Boston. I spent five years there honing my skills and having the time of my life! I was also able to do some teaching at the Boston Architectural College and the New England School of Art and Design. After those five years, I decided to head back to the Midwest to be closer to family. Kansas City was the perfect place!
I accepted a position at a well-respected design-build firm and was able to gain a wealth of knowledge about the remodeling industry. It was not long after joining them that things with the economy were changing and it was clear that my position there was questionable. This was in 2009. With few options and the confidence of my loved ones and supportive past clients, I decided to start my own business. I would joke that there was no time like a recession to start a luxury design business! Turns out, it was a great time to do just that!
Orion Design was unique in that I didn’t sell a product and I wasn’t tethered to a specific contractor. I was able to work with the materials and finishes as well as the contractor that would best serve my clients. I have not looked back and my business has continued to flourish. With the growth of Orion Design, it has become the absolute joy of my career to assemble a team of incredibly talented and bright women. We thrive on creating client-focused designs that are a reflection of the family and home that they serve.
When I’m not working away I am home with my husband Phil and our two little kiddos. We are always in the middle of a home improvement project and I love to spend time working on my shade garden.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Building a solid reputation has always been important to me. One of the more critical aspects has been making sure that the various people that I work with have the same beliefs and high standards. I have been blessed to work with many talented and high level trades over the years. Being associated with Kansas City’s best is always good for your reputation and has thankfully led to many friendships as well! What has also been important is being true to my word and following through with my commitments. I always want my clients to know how important they are to me and will do everything possible to make their project a success. It is this enthusiasm and love of what I do that has allowed me to have a successful business and one that has allowed me to grow my firm and bring on other designers that feel the same!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The biggest pivot I had was a few years after I had started Orion Design. I had been working as a designer but also managing projects. The design work had been immensely fulfilling and I enjoyed my clients and the various trades I was working with but at the end of the day I was getting burnt out. Managing the daily implementation of the projects was not fulfilling and was not going to be sustainable for me. My workload was also growing and I found that I had enough to focus on the design work alone and could better serve my clients by working alongside talented and trusted contractors. By this time I had also met and worked with a few awesome folks so the transition was relatively easy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://designbyorion.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oriondesigninc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oriondesigninc

Image Credits
Bob Greenspan 8183 Productions Head Shots by Robbin Loomas