Episode Overview

Title: How Graphic Designers Can Turn Chaos Into Creativity with Rocky Roarke
Podcast: The Angry Designer
Date: October 30, 2025
Guest: Rocky Roarke – Creative director, agency founder (Blue Cyclops)

In this candid and engaging episode, the hosts sit down with Rocky Roarke at Creative South to explore how graphic designers—especially freelancers and agency owners—can transform industry chaos into creativity. Rocky shares real stories and practical strategies for building resilient, rewarding creative businesses using a flexible, freelance-centric model. The conversation dives deep into personal quirks, business pivots, dealing with tough clients, and leveraging side projects and even ADHD as superpowers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Embracing Your Inner Weirdness in Design

• Rocky’s Origins: Rocky traces the roots of his agency’s branding (Blue Cyclops) back to a childhood imaginary friend, Bob, reflecting on how childhood quirks can fuel creative careers.
  • Quote: “It’s what makes us weird as kids, makes us successful as adults, especially in this space. Anyway, I think, you know, you embrace your inner weirdness to be awesome.” — Host (01:24)
• Authenticity: Rocky and the hosts talk about the struggle—and necessity—of owning your authentic self in the industry.

2. Building with Freelancers: The Blue Cyclops Model

• Flexible Teams: Rocky explains his entirely freelance team structure, which allows his agency to scale up or down based on need without the pressure of fixed salaries.
  • Quote: “My whole team is freelancers. Nobody is employees. It’s freedom and everything.” — Rocky (04:10)
• Growth and Stability: They discuss the pitfalls of traditional agency growth (rapid expansion, then collapse) and how the freelancer model can foster lasting stability. (04:32)
• Team Loyalty & Wellbeing: Rocky prioritizes paying his team first, supporting freelancers with consistent work, even during dry seasons.
  • Quote: “I make sure that my team is first…I defend them when clients get too crazy. God knows that I pay them first.” — Rocky (06:05)

3. Supporting & Developing Freelancers

• Clear Communication: Rocky is upfront about pay rates and business realities.
• Education: He invests in team growth, buying courses and subscriptions even for freelancers who might leave.
  • Quote: “If somebody wants to start learning animation or…Framer, I find a course. I buy it for them…” — Rocky (07:39)
• No Guaranteed Retainers: While not offering retainers, Rocky strives to provide ongoing work, including in-house projects to keep freelancers engaged and paid during lean times. (08:44)

4. Surviving Client Chaos & Business Downturns

• Toxic Clients: Rocky openly shares about a recent difficult client, how gaslighting affected morale, and his boundary-setting process.
  • Quote: “They were trying to gaslight me…there was no way we could work together. So…we had to part ways…” — Rocky (11:09, 12:13)
• Financial Strategy: Losing clients can be a major blow; Rocky recounts periods of losing retainers and the importance of diversifying project pipelines.
  • Quote: “I’ve fallen into this trap where I become too reliant on retainer work…and it’s something a lot of freelancers do…” — Rocky (13:34)
• Advice for Dry Spells: Instead of wallowing, Rocky encourages using downtime for passion-driven side projects, which often attract new clients.

5. The Power of Side Projects

• Portfolio Value: Side projects not only fill downtime but also lead to long-term client work and revenue.
  • Quote: “My most successful project…has brought in over a quarter of a million dollars…It’s a side project.” — Rocky (15:12)
• Authentic Creativity: Unlike client work, side projects showcase true creativity and often drive new business more than traditional portfolios.
  • Quote: “Client work does not lead to other client work unless it’s that client…side projects…you’re more passionate about…” — Rocky (15:33)

6. Innovative Uses of AI (ChatGPT) for Creative Process

• AI as a Client Stand-in: Rocky uses ChatGPT to generate detailed project briefs and simulate client feedback, enriching internal side projects and preparing his team for real-world curveballs.
  • Quote: “We actually trained ChatGPT to act as a client…we submitted the work to ChatGPT to review…it gave us the feedback…” — Rocky (16:28, 17:31, 17:38)
• AI as Tool, Not Crutch: Emphasizes that AI supports but does not replace creative input; it’s about augmenting ideas, not generating the final work. (18:38)

7. Freelancers in Agencies: A New Normal

• Industry Insight: Rocky notes that many agencies rely on freelancers, but his transparency and flexibility set his model apart.
  • Quote: “Most agencies are actually doing this…they use freelancers all the time for overflow…” — Rocky (19:46)
• Diverse Skillset: Using freelancers allows agencies to bring in specialists for specific project needs—animation, copywriting, etc.—making the agency adaptable and resilient. (20:28-20:59)

8. Vetting & Managing Freelancers

• Onboarding Process: Rocky runs an initial month-long trial on internal work before involving freelancers with clients, focusing on teamwork and fit.
  • Quote: “We usually do an onboarding period of about a month…internal projects first…test them out on some client work…” — Rocky (22:19)
• Reliability: Some freelancers prefer more autonomy and don’t mesh with the ‘agency team’ dynamic—he’s clear that it’s not for everyone. (22:58)
• Practical Flexibility: If people leave or aren’t a fit, Rocky (or others in the team) pick up the slack.

9. Harnessing ADHD as a Superpower

• Personal Experience: Rocky is frank about living (and working) with ADHD—its challenges and unexpected benefits for creative focus.
  • Quote: “If there’s something I like…I will hyper fixate…from night to day or day to night…” — Rocky (25:13)
• Hyperfocus vs. Scattered Attention: He describes deep, productive flow states, but also how ADHD can lead to bouncing between tasks and leaving a ‘tornado trail’.
  • Quote: “You bounce around…take a bowl into the kitchen…then you see something else and you go to that…” — Rocky (29:21)

10. Looking Ahead: Growth, Teaching, & Community

• Future Goals: Rocky aims to double the size of Blue Cyclops, reach $500,000 in revenue, and lead workshops on agency business at the next Creative South.
  • Quote: “The future is that hopefully this time next year we will be double the size that we are…” — Rocky (30:26)
• Encouragement: The hosts and Rocky urge freelancers and agency leaders to think differently about collaboration, business models, and personal development.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s what makes us weird as kids, makes us successful as adults…embrace your inner weirdness to be awesome.” — Host (01:24)
• “My whole team is freelancers. Nobody is employees. It’s freedom and everything.” — Rocky (04:10)
• “I make sure that my team is first. I defend them when clients get too crazy…I pay them first.” — Rocky (06:05)
• “Side projects…you’re more passionate about. No matter what. We are not passionate about client work. Because clients always throw a wrench into it.” — Rocky (15:33)
• “We actually trained ChatGPT to act as a client…we submitted the work to ChatGPT to review…and it gave us the feedback.” — Rocky (16:28, 17:31)
• “Most agencies are actually doing this…they use freelancers all the time for overflow…” — Rocky (19:46)
• “If there’s something I like, I latch onto, I will hyper fixate…from night to day or day to night.” — Rocky (25:13)
• “You bounce around…like a tornado trail right behind you.” — Rocky (29:21)
• “The future is…hopefully this time next year we will be double the size that we are...and possibly put on a business workshop next year here at Creative South.” — Rocky (30:26)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | Speaker(s) | |-----------------------------------------------|:-------------:|---------------------------| | Rocky’s brand/childhood weirdness | 00:33–01:25 | Rocky, Host | | Building with freelance teams | 03:38–06:09 | Rocky, Host | | Supporting and educating freelancers | 07:02–08:19 | Rocky | | Side projects as creative business drivers | 14:54–15:29 | Rocky, Host | | Using ChatGPT for side project briefs | 16:28–18:38 | Rocky, Host | | Agency/freelancer relationship advice | 19:03–22:16 | Rocky, Host | | ADHD and hyperfocus in agency life | 23:34–29:23 | Rocky, Host | | Goals for Blue Cyclops and future plans | 30:19–30:58 | Rocky, Host |

Conclusion

This episode delivers an honest, inspiring, and practical look at what it takes to run a creative business in chaotic times. Rocky Roarke’s freelance-first agency model, commitment to team wellbeing, and innovative use of side projects and AI provide concrete advice and encouragement for designers and agency leaders seeking sustainability and creative fulfillment. His openness about ADHD and the realities of agency ups and downs makes this a relatable and valuable listen for anyone in the design field.

Find Rocky at:
Website: bluecyclops.co
Instagram: @RockyRourke

Final Thought:
"Stay creative. Stay ang[ry]." — Rocky Roarke (31:54)