Ross: people show up in, sometimes people show up in the wrong ways. It's not a fault of themself, but I think that... It's that industry pressure to show up in a certain way, which I think that they're being dishonest with themselves a little bit, think. But also it can be almost misinformation for younger creators out there who then also think that they have to show up in a certain way and speak a certain way, online or in person, at networking events or whatever, really. It creates this trickle down effect, I think, with more experienced people where
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm.
Ross: a lot of younger people just trying to find a way to fit in and be a part of it and feel belonged in with within the industry. And I think that's for me, that's the that's the biggest thing that the people unfortunately, unfortunately, probably no fault of their own, because they've just been a part of that same same process show up in a way which might feel quite dishonest. And
Heather Ebanks: Mm.
Ross: Basically, it would be a lot easier if everyone was just a little bit more themselves, I think. Basically, and just show up for themselves because you can't be too afraid of that. Sometimes it makes things easier as well. think that if you automatically don't get along with somebody because you're being transparent with them about, you know, you don't have to go into the life story or anything necessarily too much about, whatever, but you can get a good grasp of who you want to spend your time around within this industry.
Heather Ebanks: Mmm. Mm. Mm. Mm.
Ross: Yeah, saves you a lot of hassle basically.
Heather Ebanks: what is something in the creative industry that quietly frustrates you because you think it pulls people away from being their genuine self?
Ross: I've a lot of question before really in that sense of people just being quite dishonest but I mean maybe something which I've struggled with a lot is specifically like design trends when they're used in a way to potentially
Heather Ebanks: Mm-hmm.
Ross: tactically get you further ahead, I guess, maybe. But I don't blame anyone who uses any kind of like design trend or particular format to create, because a lot of it can just be quite a good bit of fun and a sense of belonging within a design community, which are all showing up and support each other in that sense. But if it comes from a place where you feel so you might have to do that to
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm.
Ross: get in front of people, I think it's quite difficult because I've been through that in the past. I've been through that sort of that space and that, pressure, especially with how terribly algorithm is and, and all this different stuff that people got to show up in, different ways and try different things. And there's nothing wrong with that per se, but I think that it does dilute your message and who you are. And it's been nice to see more and more people embrace
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm-hmm. Mm. Mm-hmm.
Ross: who they are and how genuine, like, be more genuine with himself and how they present himself online. so I think that's it really. think that you can also, unfortunately, I think it's quite easy to notice when people aren't being true to himself and honest with himself. And I think that's kind of something which I think can not like get on my nerves, but it definitely,
Heather Ebanks: Yeah, Hmm.
Ross: it sticks out to me online specifically. And I think, yeah, people just got to lean into themselves more and just really embrace it.
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm. Mm. Yeah, I think of the scenario like you meet famous people and they're totally different in person. You're just like, oh, you're not what I thought you would be. like, especially if you meet them directly. So yeah, definitely can write that. What's the weirdest source of inspiration you've ever used in a project?
Ross: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah Sometimes it's really difficult to actually understand where inspiration comes from. So yeah, I'm gonna have to think about this for a second to be fair, I think in the past I've created a piece of work which are intended to be quite humorous in some way, have some humor attached to it. And I think that it's something which I don't explore that much within my creative output.
Heather Ebanks: Mm.
Ross: that much at all really, but it's what I started off doing with animation and things like that, was that they were really short animated comedy skits basically. And it comes out every now and then. within my work now. Yeah, I don't know if I have necessarily a, a, answer on, on a very particular, um, piece of inspiration or like weird piece of inspiration that I've, that I've used within it, but I guess my humor itself can be quite, um, flamboyant and dry at other times and things like that. And, um, I said, do you have quite like a funky like personality when you do get to know me and stuff like that. And embracing that is something which
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm. Mm-hmm. you Mm. Mm.
Ross: I've tried to do at times. I think it's important to be able to express yourself through the work which you create. I think that's probably, guess, maybe that is the weirdest thing because I have a weird sense of humor.
Heather Ebanks: people will gravitate towards you and they wouldn't think it would be weird anyway. So they probably could relate to your sense of humour anyway. So one person's weird is another person's weird.
Ross: Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. Exactly. And I think that as well, mean, more and more I've noticed that people are just weird in whatever way they are anyway, and I think that's beautiful. But like the more the say, for example, go into like, particular types of creative social events around Cardiff, like say creative mornings is a good example of that where going into that space, I really thought it was going to be much more of like a networking environment.
Heather Ebanks: Yeah. Yeah.
Ross: Not necessarily that that was what I was necessarily wanting, but it was what I was expecting. And going into that space and really understanding that people were here to have an extra sense of belonging and community around the creative scene here in Cardiff specifically. As much as it is to actually listen to absolutely wonderful talks every month as a driving force to actually get people there as well is important.
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm.
Ross: and you learn a lot from those talks. think that a lot of people go there, including myself, go there to get to meet different people and feel less alone in this freelance space for me specifically, but this creative industry in general. But yeah, like I mean, I've met loads of weirdos there in the best way possible.
Heather Ebanks: Yeah. What are you trying to say? What are you trying to say? Are you trying to say something right now?
Ross: Well Heather, we've established that we're all weird in our own way.
Heather Ebanks: Definitely. All weirdos reunited.
Ross: Exactly. But I've, I've met some absolutely wonderful people there and like to the point, where doing this, freelance thing without a bunch of those people who I've met in that environment would be so difficult, I think now to be fair. And it was difficult before really, I don't think I even really noticed how much I've benefited from actually having people around me to like, to prop up and to, and for them to champion what I do as well is so important.
Heather Ebanks: Mmm.
Ross: So, yeah. Yeah.
Heather Ebanks: Yeah. So what project made you feel most like a kid again creatively?
Ross: Hmm. That's pretty good question. I suddenly can't think of any project I've ever done. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's come back to that one, I think.
Heather Ebanks: We can always come back to it if you want. Yeah. What's the most unexpected thing we would find in your workspace right now and why is it there?
Ross: Ooh, I mean, I've conveniently placed myself in front of my shelf, which I've, in like the last maybe two years, I've cultivated this shelf on my desk for small things, which just I've collected, don't know what you'd call them. Yeah, lots of different things. I have a...
Heather Ebanks: You Yeah. you
Ross: Probably the weirdest thing I have on the shelf, which you can't see, and I'm not gonna show you because it's probably not, it's not fitting for the camera to be there, but it's behind this plant here. It's a hamster cage, which my mate Dan, who is an amazing sculptor, is an incredible sculptor. He does this thing where...
Heather Ebanks: why? Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
Ross: For his mate's birthdays, he'll usually often create something very obscure and weird. I don't know whether it's just as a like, as like an antique gift. I'm not sure it's like as a way of like whoever, but you can tell there's a lot of like love putting into it. But I had how long ago? So maybe two years ago on my birthday, he brought along this hamster cage with a model of me inside. Fully naked as well, by the way, a fully naked version of me.
Heather Ebanks: Yeah. Mm. But... You
Ross: model probably about like maybe this big or so like in there with a couple other things he's made which are like things which I like for example. So yeah that's probably the weirdest thing. It's quite fittingly behind a lot of other stuff. So that have to you know be confronted with myself every day. Yeah and on display yeah absolutely.
Heather Ebanks: Yeah. Right. display.
Ross: But like, yeah, this, I do really enjoy and take pride of the shelf in general really, because there's a lot of different books on here, which I mean, don't really read too much at all. But I do love a design book or illustration book or anything like that. So that all sits on here, along with smattering other things really.
Heather Ebanks: Mm. You
Ross: But that's, yeah.
Heather Ebanks: you did any modeling for your gift but
Ross: I've I've yeah, absolutely not basically. I have no idea how it came up the idea
Heather Ebanks: Well, say it's his interpretation of yourself. Yeah.
Ross: Yes, yeah, I think if I wanted to that is probably the most alarming and troubling thing about the gift itself is that he has had to think of me without any clothes on, without any references. yeah, it's not a
Heather Ebanks: would love to have seen you. I would have been a fly on the wall to see your face when you first opened that present.
Ross: Yeah, same to be fair. Yeah, I feel so like my soul like left my body for a second. So I'm surprised I didn't take a look at my surroundings and yeah. Yeah.
Heather Ebanks: What's the most hilariously wrong assumption people make about you and or what you do?
Ross: Hmm. I don't know if people do get, I mean, maybe they do get a different idea of myself. I think that As much as I've always tried to be as honest with myself within spaces, I think that there is always a level that people are to come across slightly differently online not be as authentic to myself in the past, I think. And I think that people still know me from that time maybe, and they've only...
Heather Ebanks: Mm.
Ross: met me at certain like networking events for example where I've like showing up as a slightly different person I think maybe that's it but yeah in terms of like a more I guess
Heather Ebanks: Mm.
Ross: like funny slash interesting side of what people might like, like a misconception. I'm not sure really. I think that like the other thing as well, because you can't control of like how other people perceive you. I really, really, make sure that I don't think about, what other people think of me as much as possible really.
Heather Ebanks: Hmm. Yeah.
Ross: and just concentrate on your own stuff but even though that's more of like a serious answer it also means that I'm not really picking up on any kind of more funny or interesting misconceptions about me as well. Maybe I should ask my mates more about... yeah maybe not, yeah maybe not.
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm-hmm. Well, maybe not. Yeah. Just be oblivious to it all.
Ross: Yeah. Well, I think that like, it's important to be in your own lane with a lot of stuff, right? I think that not in a way that you're completely like, guess, away with fairies, although that can be quite fun at times as well, I think creatively, but I think that you've just got to, you've just got to, um, only you can, I say you can only trust yourself. That's, that's, that's quite, that's quite a dangerous way of looking at it. think, because especially if you were like quite critical of yourself, um, it's important to have people around you. You can check in and check in with, but
Heather Ebanks: Mmm. Hmm. Yeah.
Ross: I'd say rather, I'll rephrase it and say, like, I think that you should, you should try and trust yourself as much as possible and the way that you see yourself and like look after yourself in that way. And bring people in around you and people you care about and stuff as well. And that's a massive part of it. But like, at the same time, just making sure you're, you're completely comfortable in your own lane.
Heather Ebanks: Mm-hmm. Mm.
Ross: is such an important part of it.
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm.
Ross: a lot of younger people just trying to find a way to fit in and be a part of it and feel belonged in with within the industry. And I think that's for me, that's the that's the biggest thing that the people unfortunately, unfortunately, probably no fault of their own, because they've just been a part of that same same process show up in a way which might feel quite dishonest. And
Heather Ebanks: Mm.
Ross: Basically, it would be a lot easier if everyone was just a little bit more themselves, I think. Basically, and just show up for themselves because you can't be too afraid of that. Sometimes it makes things easier as well. think that if you automatically don't get along with somebody because you're being transparent with them about, you know, you don't have to go into the life story or anything necessarily too much about, whatever, but you can get a good grasp of who you want to spend your time around within this industry.
Heather Ebanks: Mmm. Mm. Mm. Mm.
Ross: Yeah, saves you a lot of hassle basically.
Heather Ebanks: what is something in the creative industry that quietly frustrates you because you think it pulls people away from being their genuine self?
Ross: I've a lot of question before really in that sense of people just being quite dishonest but I mean maybe something which I've struggled with a lot is specifically like design trends when they're used in a way to potentially
Heather Ebanks: Mm-hmm.
Ross: tactically get you further ahead, I guess, maybe. But I don't blame anyone who uses any kind of like design trend or particular format to create, because a lot of it can just be quite a good bit of fun and a sense of belonging within a design community, which are all showing up and support each other in that sense. But if it comes from a place where you feel so you might have to do that to
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm.
Ross: get in front of people, I think it's quite difficult because I've been through that in the past. I've been through that sort of that space and that, pressure, especially with how terribly algorithm is and, and all this different stuff that people got to show up in, different ways and try different things. And there's nothing wrong with that per se, but I think that it does dilute your message and who you are. And it's been nice to see more and more people embrace
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm-hmm. Mm. Mm-hmm.
Ross: who they are and how genuine, like, be more genuine with himself and how they present himself online. so I think that's it really. think that you can also, unfortunately, I think it's quite easy to notice when people aren't being true to himself and honest with himself. And I think that's kind of something which I think can not like get on my nerves, but it definitely,
Heather Ebanks: Yeah, Hmm.
Ross: it sticks out to me online specifically. And I think, yeah, people just got to lean into themselves more and just really embrace it.
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm. Mm. Yeah, I think of the scenario like you meet famous people and they're totally different in person. You're just like, oh, you're not what I thought you would be. like, especially if you meet them directly. So yeah, definitely can write that. What's the weirdest source of inspiration you've ever used in a project?
Ross: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah Sometimes it's really difficult to actually understand where inspiration comes from. So yeah, I'm gonna have to think about this for a second to be fair, I think in the past I've created a piece of work which are intended to be quite humorous in some way, have some humor attached to it. And I think that it's something which I don't explore that much within my creative output.
Heather Ebanks: Mm.
Ross: that much at all really, but it's what I started off doing with animation and things like that, was that they were really short animated comedy skits basically. And it comes out every now and then. within my work now. Yeah, I don't know if I have necessarily a, a, answer on, on a very particular, um, piece of inspiration or like weird piece of inspiration that I've, that I've used within it, but I guess my humor itself can be quite, um, flamboyant and dry at other times and things like that. And, um, I said, do you have quite like a funky like personality when you do get to know me and stuff like that. And embracing that is something which
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm. Mm-hmm. you Mm. Mm.
Ross: I've tried to do at times. I think it's important to be able to express yourself through the work which you create. I think that's probably, guess, maybe that is the weirdest thing because I have a weird sense of humor.
Heather Ebanks: people will gravitate towards you and they wouldn't think it would be weird anyway. So they probably could relate to your sense of humour anyway. So one person's weird is another person's weird.
Ross: Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. Exactly. And I think that as well, mean, more and more I've noticed that people are just weird in whatever way they are anyway, and I think that's beautiful. But like the more the say, for example, go into like, particular types of creative social events around Cardiff, like say creative mornings is a good example of that where going into that space, I really thought it was going to be much more of like a networking environment.
Heather Ebanks: Yeah. Yeah.
Ross: Not necessarily that that was what I was necessarily wanting, but it was what I was expecting. And going into that space and really understanding that people were here to have an extra sense of belonging and community around the creative scene here in Cardiff specifically. As much as it is to actually listen to absolutely wonderful talks every month as a driving force to actually get people there as well is important.
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm.
Ross: and you learn a lot from those talks. think that a lot of people go there, including myself, go there to get to meet different people and feel less alone in this freelance space for me specifically, but this creative industry in general. But yeah, like I mean, I've met loads of weirdos there in the best way possible.
Heather Ebanks: Yeah. What are you trying to say? What are you trying to say? Are you trying to say something right now?
Ross: Well Heather, we've established that we're all weird in our own way.
Heather Ebanks: Definitely. All weirdos reunited.
Ross: Exactly. But I've, I've met some absolutely wonderful people there and like to the point, where doing this, freelance thing without a bunch of those people who I've met in that environment would be so difficult, I think now to be fair. And it was difficult before really, I don't think I even really noticed how much I've benefited from actually having people around me to like, to prop up and to, and for them to champion what I do as well is so important.
Heather Ebanks: Mmm.
Ross: So, yeah. Yeah.
Heather Ebanks: Yeah. So what project made you feel most like a kid again creatively?
Ross: Hmm. That's pretty good question. I suddenly can't think of any project I've ever done. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's come back to that one, I think.
Heather Ebanks: We can always come back to it if you want. Yeah. What's the most unexpected thing we would find in your workspace right now and why is it there?
Ross: Ooh, I mean, I've conveniently placed myself in front of my shelf, which I've, in like the last maybe two years, I've cultivated this shelf on my desk for small things, which just I've collected, don't know what you'd call them. Yeah, lots of different things. I have a...
Heather Ebanks: You Yeah. you
Ross: Probably the weirdest thing I have on the shelf, which you can't see, and I'm not gonna show you because it's probably not, it's not fitting for the camera to be there, but it's behind this plant here. It's a hamster cage, which my mate Dan, who is an amazing sculptor, is an incredible sculptor. He does this thing where...
Heather Ebanks: why? Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
Ross: For his mate's birthdays, he'll usually often create something very obscure and weird. I don't know whether it's just as a like, as like an antique gift. I'm not sure it's like as a way of like whoever, but you can tell there's a lot of like love putting into it. But I had how long ago? So maybe two years ago on my birthday, he brought along this hamster cage with a model of me inside. Fully naked as well, by the way, a fully naked version of me.
Heather Ebanks: Yeah. Mm. But... You
Ross: model probably about like maybe this big or so like in there with a couple other things he's made which are like things which I like for example. So yeah that's probably the weirdest thing. It's quite fittingly behind a lot of other stuff. So that have to you know be confronted with myself every day. Yeah and on display yeah absolutely.
Heather Ebanks: Yeah. Right. display.
Ross: But like, yeah, this, I do really enjoy and take pride of the shelf in general really, because there's a lot of different books on here, which I mean, don't really read too much at all. But I do love a design book or illustration book or anything like that. So that all sits on here, along with smattering other things really.
Heather Ebanks: Mm. You
Ross: But that's, yeah.
Heather Ebanks: you did any modeling for your gift but
Ross: I've I've yeah, absolutely not basically. I have no idea how it came up the idea
Heather Ebanks: Well, say it's his interpretation of yourself. Yeah.
Ross: Yes, yeah, I think if I wanted to that is probably the most alarming and troubling thing about the gift itself is that he has had to think of me without any clothes on, without any references. yeah, it's not a
Heather Ebanks: would love to have seen you. I would have been a fly on the wall to see your face when you first opened that present.
Ross: Yeah, same to be fair. Yeah, I feel so like my soul like left my body for a second. So I'm surprised I didn't take a look at my surroundings and yeah. Yeah.
Heather Ebanks: What's the most hilariously wrong assumption people make about you and or what you do?
Ross: Hmm. I don't know if people do get, I mean, maybe they do get a different idea of myself. I think that As much as I've always tried to be as honest with myself within spaces, I think that there is always a level that people are to come across slightly differently online not be as authentic to myself in the past, I think. And I think that people still know me from that time maybe, and they've only...
Heather Ebanks: Mm.
Ross: met me at certain like networking events for example where I've like showing up as a slightly different person I think maybe that's it but yeah in terms of like a more I guess
Heather Ebanks: Mm.
Ross: like funny slash interesting side of what people might like, like a misconception. I'm not sure really. I think that like the other thing as well, because you can't control of like how other people perceive you. I really, really, make sure that I don't think about, what other people think of me as much as possible really.
Heather Ebanks: Hmm. Yeah.
Ross: and just concentrate on your own stuff but even though that's more of like a serious answer it also means that I'm not really picking up on any kind of more funny or interesting misconceptions about me as well. Maybe I should ask my mates more about... yeah maybe not, yeah maybe not.
Heather Ebanks: Mm. Mm-hmm. Well, maybe not. Yeah. Just be oblivious to it all.
Ross: Yeah. Well, I think that like, it's important to be in your own lane with a lot of stuff, right? I think that not in a way that you're completely like, guess, away with fairies, although that can be quite fun at times as well, I think creatively, but I think that you've just got to, you've just got to, um, only you can, I say you can only trust yourself. That's, that's, that's quite, that's quite a dangerous way of looking at it. think, because especially if you were like quite critical of yourself, um, it's important to have people around you. You can check in and check in with, but
Heather Ebanks: Mmm. Hmm. Yeah.
Ross: I'd say rather, I'll rephrase it and say, like, I think that you should, you should try and trust yourself as much as possible and the way that you see yourself and like look after yourself in that way. And bring people in around you and people you care about and stuff as well. And that's a massive part of it. But like, at the same time, just making sure you're, you're completely comfortable in your own lane.
Heather Ebanks: Mm-hmm. Mm.
Ross: is such an important part of it.
