I
have always been interested in art,
taking classes from an early age,” says
Ross. "I think my off-the-wall mother
has something to do with that". It was
many years later while studying at Vega
where he followed through on his earlier
passions, taking up multi-media design
studies and adopting a host of interesting
new perspectives.
On graduating, Ross Drakes pursued a
career in animation. It's in that field where
he was fortunate enough to share a working
space with some of the most influential
creatives in Johannesburg.
After 5 years of work in freelance animation,
come 2007, Ross and two of his friends
- Benjamin Vorster and Donovan Pugh came together to create a business plan for
Nicework.
He recalls, "We did that on a single piece
of A4 paper in a coffee shop in Parktown…
The premise was to borrow R100 000, buy a
Power Mac G5, get clients and then become
successful.” A simple plan which birthed
the agency now known as Nicework.
Despite the laconic nature of that plan,
it proved to be winner. The three started
working in a garden cottage owned by
Donovan's mother. Eventually launching the
company, which went on to win big clients