Ross Cassidy is a South African-born interior, furniture, and home goods designer. With a global perspective shaped by years spent in London, Hong Kong, and New York, Cassidy now calls Los Angeles home, where he leads his AD100 design firm. Known for his refined, contemporary aesthetic, his work spans residential interiors, product design, and collaborations with major retailers like CB2. His high-profile clientele includes names such as Sia, Amber Valletta, Alex Pettyfer, and Monique Lhuillier. Alongside his design practice, Cassidy currently hosts Architectural Digest’s Designers in the Wild.

In this interview, Ross Cassidy shares how solitude, discipline, and perspective help him stay creatively energized. From his Pilates routine and meditation practice to the joy he finds in travel and quiet moments, Cassidy reflects on the importance of creating space, not just physically, but mentally, for ideas to flourish.

AS: What are some self-care practices that you find most benefit your work & creative output?

RC: I’m completely addicted to Pilates. It demands intense mental focus and physical discipline, which I find essential as a daily reset. It reboots my system and sets the tone for everything that follows.

AS: In what ways do you nurture your mental and emotional health to maintain creativity and inspiration?

RC: I spend a lot of time alone. Other people’s energy can be distracting, and for me to create something meaningful, I need silence and space. Solitude is where I find my clearest thoughts.

“THE JOURNEY OF LIFE IS LONG AND WINDING, AND EACH STEP HAS SOMETHING TO TEACH.” - Ross Cassidy

AS: What practices or routines do you incorporate into your daily life to support your work while maintaining your creative energy and mental well-being?

RC: I have an advanced meditation practice that acts as a governor for me. It helps me stay balanced and gives me clarity when problem-solving. It's a constant source of perspective and grounding.

AS: How do you handle setbacks or challenges in your creative endeavors while still prioritizing your well-being?

RC: Setbacks happen every day. I try not to take them too seriously. That’s something I remind both myself and my clients regularly—creativity should be joyful. Crisis and conflict are the enemies of good design.

AS: What specific environment or settings do you find especially conducive to both self-care and creative inspiration?

RC: I’m a luxury hotel fanatic. Traveling recharges me. There’s something about having breakfast in a grand hotel that sparks inspiration and heightens my senses. It puts me in a zone where I feel most creative.

AS: Best self-care advice you have received?

RC: A thousand things come to mind, but if I had to sum it up: The journey of life is long and winding, and each step has something to teach. The older I get, the more rewarding life becomes.

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