Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Naii Vegas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Naii , thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
One of the biggest risks I ever took was deciding to build my design studio in the United States.
Creative Buildr Studio was born during the pandemic while I was living in Colombia. At that time, the world felt uncertain, but creatively it was also a moment of reinvention. I started designing small installations and custom pieces, experimenting with the idea that design, art, and fabrication could exist in the same space.
A few years later, I decided to move to the U.S. to grow the studio. I didn’t arrive with a big team, investors, or a guaranteed pipeline of projects. What I had was an idea, a vision for the kind of spaces I wanted to create, and a deep belief that design could tell stories and build communities.
Starting over in a new country is a risk in itself. You have to rebuild your network from zero, understand a different market, and prove your value again and again. I remember walking into meetings where no one knew who I was, but I carried my work, my energy, and my perspective as a Venezuelan designer with me.
Slowly, opportunities began to appear. Small projects turned into larger collaborations, installations, and commercial interiors. Each one became a way to refine the identity of the studio , spaces that blend art, architecture, and atmosphere.
Looking back, the risk was never really about moving countries. The real risk was believing that my vision deserved space in a new place. And the beautiful part is that it worked. Today, Creative Buildr Studio continues to grow, and every project feels like another step in a journey that started with a leap of faith.
Sometimes the biggest risk is simply deciding to begin.
Naii , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Naii Vegas, and I’m the Creative Director and founder of Creative Buildr Studio, a design studio based in Washington, DC. My work lives at the intersection of interior design, art, and fabrication, and I focus primarily on commercial environments, spaces like coffee shops, restaurants, retail concepts, wellness centers and immersive installations.
My journey into design didn’t begin in a traditional way. I’ve always been drawn to creating environments and building things with my hands, but the real turning point happened during the pandemic while I was living in Colombia. That period of global pause gave me the space to rethink what I wanted to build creatively and professionally. It was there that Creative Buildr Studio was born.
At the beginning, the studio started as a hybrid experiment, part design studio, part creative workshop. I was designing interiors, but also building custom elements, installations, furniture, and spatial experiences. I quickly realized that what excited me most was not just designing spaces on paper, but bringing them to life physically and shaping the atmosphere people experience when they walk into a place.
Later, I moved to the United States to continue developing the studio and eventually established Creative Buildr Studio in Washington, DC. Starting over in a new country was both challenging and exciting. I had to rebuild my network and introduce my work to a completely new market, but that process also pushed me to refine my voice as a designer.
Today, the studio focuses primarily on commercial interior design projects. We work with entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, wellness brands, and creative businesses to help them translate their ideas into real environments. Our services typically include concept development, spatial design, technical drawing packages, custom installations, and creative direction for physical spaces.
Many of the clients I work with are founders who have a strong vision for their brand but need help translating that vision into a physical experience. That’s where my work comes in. I help bridge the gap between concept and execution—thinking about how design, materials, lighting, layout, and atmosphere all come together to tell a story.
What I believe sets my work apart is the combination of design thinking and hands-on building. Because I’m deeply involved in the fabrication and installation process, I approach design with a very practical understanding of how things are actually constructed. That perspective allows me to design spaces that are not only visually strong but also realistic to build.
Another important aspect of my work is cultural perspective. As a Venezuelan designer who has lived and worked in multiple countries, my work is naturally influenced by different environments and aesthetics. I’m drawn to spaces that feel layered, expressive, and atmospheric, places where design, art, and emotion intersect.
The projects I’m most proud of are the ones where the space truly transforms the energy of a place. Whether it’s a small café, a wellness space, or an installation, I love seeing how thoughtful design can shape how people feel, connect, and interact with a space.
For anyone discovering my work for the first time, what I hope they see is a studio that is both creative and deeply committed to craft. Creative Buildr Studio is about building environments that feel intentional, expressive, and memorable.
At the end of the day, my work is about creating spaces that people don’t just visit, but experience.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
One of the most effective strategies for growing my clientele has been letting the work speak for itself—through real spaces, real experiences, and real relationships.
In my industry, people don’t just hire you based on a portfolio, they hire you because they’ve felt your work. Many of my clients first encounter Creative Buildr Studio by walking into a space we’ve designed or through a recommendation from someone they trust. That kind of exposure is much more powerful than traditional marketing because it’s rooted in experience.
Another key factor has been treating every project as an opportunity to create something memorable. Whether it’s a full commercial build-out or a smaller installation, I approach each space with the same level of intention. When a space resonates, it naturally generates visibility, people take photos, share it, talk about it—and the project becomes part of the brand’s growth as well as mine.
Collaboration has also played a major role. Being part of a creative community, working with other designers, artists, and entrepreneurs, has opened doors to projects I wouldn’t have accessed otherwise. A lot of my work has come from those organic connections.
Ultimately, the most sustainable growth has come from a combination of strong design, consistency, and trust. Instead of chasing clients, I’ve focused on building spaces and relationships that make people want to come back and bring others with them.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
For me, staying connected with clients goes far beyond formal communication, it’s about building genuine, long-term relationships.
Throughout a project, I’m very present and hands-on. I believe that consistency and transparency during the process build a strong foundation of trust. But what really fosters loyalty happens after the project is finished. I make an effort to stay in touch, check in on how the space is performing, and support clients as their businesses evolve.
In many cases, my clients are founders and creatives themselves, so I see the relationship as a collaboration rather than a transaction. I celebrate their openings, share their projects, and continue to be part of their journey even after the design phase is complete.
Another important aspect is creating work that truly reflects their identity. When clients feel that their space represents them authentically, and that it was built with intention, they naturally develop a deeper connection not only to the space, but to the team behind it.
I’ve found that loyalty isn’t something you force, it’s something you build through trust, care, and consistency over time. When people feel supported and understood, they come back, and they bring others with them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://CRETAIVEBUILDR.COM
- Instagram: CreativeBuildr
- Other: @NaiiVegas.t
Image Credits
Yes, Cherry blossom Garden, Mercy me Project / Yours Truly Hotels, Washington DC
Pict: Hawkeye Johnson
https://www.instagram.com/hawkeyejohnson/?hl=es-la