It’s that time of the year again where the cheap tinsel comes out and Mariah Carey gets defrosted to haunt every Christmas playlist in existence. At NERD Productions we have a global roster who all spend the festive period in different ways so we wanted to cap this year out with catching up with some familiar faces to discuss Christmas and New Years traditions and memories, so grab the mince pies and mulled wine and enjoy.
ALICJA JASINA
“In Poland, Christmas Eve comes with a quirky tradition: twelve dishes on the table (one for each apostle), which makes the dinner both chaotic and magical. We also always set one extra place for an unexpected guest – a stranger who might knock on the door, because no one should be alone that night. No stranger has ever appeared… but we’ve always had plenty of friends to fill the space.
Another tradition is sharing opłatek, a thin sacred wafer similar to the communion host. We break off pieces and exchange personal wishes one-on-one. It’s a surprisingly emotional ritual.
The evening is always cozy and joyful, and it inevitably ends the same way: my uncle gets tipsy, launches into family legends (including pre-war stories about my grandmother), and then grabs his guitar – he can play anything by ear. He moves from traditional carols to all kinds of songs, improvising based on who’s visiting. Last year, when my Colombian friends joined us, he made up “Spanish” lyrics that sounded convincingly Spanish… but absolutely weren’t. The guests were delighted anyway, so I guess that’s what matters.”
KULAY LABITIGAN
“We enjoy the old-school card giving. It is simple but heartfelt. My husband and I normally create and print our own bespoke illustrated Christmas cards. We set a weekend in December to sit down, reflect together, and write our Crimbo cards by hand one by one to send to our friends, family, and loved ones. It is a beautiful tradition to reflect back on the amazing year and remind us that there are just way too many things to be grateful about.”
AHMET ILTAS
“I grew up in the Freiburg–Bad Krozingen area of Germany, and every New Year’s season, the town seemed to change color overnight. The streets would light up, decorations stretched across the buildings, and enormous Christmas trees appeared in the town squares. For us kids, it all felt like a giant amusement park.
One of my strongest memories is of a small wooden hut beneath the big tree in the square. It was actually just a stall selling souvenirs, but we had declared it our secret headquarters. I remember one freezing evening when we challenged each other to touch a metal bell and see who could keep their hand on it the longest. I won, but my hand stayed frozen shut for ten minutes afterward. At that age, pride definitely outweighed pain.
We would wander through the decorated streets, past colorful windows and towering Christmas trees, carrying our hot chocolates and trying to spook each other with silly games. Even today, whenever I see New Year’s decorations, I’m taken back to that giant tree, the metal bell that nearly froze my hand off, and those winter nights when we disappeared into the fog and laughed as only children can.”
VIKTORIIA TELFER
“I am originally from Ukraine and Christmas is a little different there compared to the UK. First of all we celebrate on the night of 6th January, as my family is Orthodox. Traditionally, there should be 12 dishes on the table for the apostles, and my grandparents always prepared specific foods such as sweet barley (Kutia), fish, chicken, with the feast kicking off as the first star appeared. We also prep various Eastern European salads which we would then eat for breakfast too 🤣.
New Year’s Eve is also very important and is largely influenced by Soviet traditions rather than religion itself. One thing remains the same, though: it’s always a big feast, and everyone loves to dress up, photo proof below…
I have very warm memories of the holidays in Ukraine, but since moving to Scotland, I no longer celebrate Christmas on the 6th, as I’m not religious. I now fully follow the British holiday calendar and absolutely love Christmas Day on the 25th with my Scottish family. We either go out for a Christmas meal or enjoy a roast at home. One thing is certain, though, everyone is spoiled with gifts. We still write Christmas lists and make sure Santa brings a present for everyone, no matter their age or behaviour…”
It’s been a tough year for the industry but still a great year for creativity and craft, new friendships and collaborations ! No matter how you celebrate, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
World Disability Day, officially known as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed annually in December. It is a day to raise awareness about disability issues and to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities. A chance to promote and celebrate their achievements and contributions to society.
Advertising can be a platform to showcase and educate people on raising awareness on people living with disability. NERD Productions is lucky enough to have talent on the roster who have worked on projects that promote and help us think differently on the topic.
One of Arcade’s most recent projects for AS Apple Autism Awareness shines a light on children living with autism. The film is a celebration of togetherness and represents the spectrum showcasing children from different backgrounds who live with the condition. Autism can affect people differently with symptoms appearing in early childhood. It can affect people differently providing distinct strengths and weaknesses and can often be a very misunderstood disability that isn’t always visible or clear. Arcade’s film shows these children are no different from other children; they have the same desires and ambitions to play and discover. Arcade applies welcoming visuals and a playful colour palette that matches with the tone and message of the film.
Emmy award winner and stop-motion artist Hayley Morris crafted a thought provoking short film Undone which was inspired by her grandfather which devastatingly captures the debilitating nature of Alzheimer’s disease. Hayley’s hauntingly melancholic film expresses so much without words, instead utilizing abstract imagery and soundscapes that conjures up a sense of isolation and sadness. Stop-motion allows a sense of tangibility that adds emotive power to the film with touch playing a huge role within the narrative.
Ahmet IItas worked with Cochlear to produce a captivating piece of animation that shows the struggles and disconnect those who suffer from hearing issues face on a daily basis. Ahmet uses sweeping transitions and a clever use of colour that showcase how Cochlear hearing implants can provide comfort and connection back to those who need it.
Ahmet’s handcrafted approach to the animation style lends to the themes of togetherness and human connection that we can sometimes take for granted. It also allows the audience a chance to view things from the perspective of someone living with hearing loss and how that can impact everyday life.
Ahmet “The Cochlear ‘Connection’ project drew attention with its emotional depth and refined artistic approach, setting itself apart from the conventional advertising line of the medical device industry. The animated film tells the meaningful story of reconnecting with the world through the implant, addressing the isolation caused by hearing loss. The primary goal of the project was to emphasize the meaningful change in the user’s life rather than simply describing the functionality of a medical device in a dry manner.
In line with this vision, a sophisticated aesthetic was adopted, featuring traditional brush strokes and artistic stylization, distinctly setting it apart from other medical ads in the sector. The narrative conveyed the emotional transition, from the world becoming abstract and pale during moments of hearing loss, to the restoration of sound and the world becoming clear and colorful again with the implant, through powerful metaphors.”
Ahmet IItas – Cochlear Hearing Implant available here
If you’d like to see more from NERD Production click here
Halloween is here and for all you horror freaks out there, turn the lights off, sit back and relax or cower behind a cushion in fear because we’ll be taking a deep dive into these spooky films by NERDY Orca & Arcade director teams.
Arcade provides endless Halloween spookiness with their latest animation for Apple bringing a playful and wicked sense of energy to the table. We’ve also been informed no vampires were harmed during the making of the film!
Ed and Nelly over at Orca have done a few projects over the years for the scariest holiday of the year. Including their delightful deranged ‘Halloween’ short that creates a sense of dread and unease in what can be described as an existential chase sequence.The animation style is reminiscent of prime Cartoon Network if it fused with the unsettling body horror of John Carpenter’s The Thing which is to say it’s pretty messed up…
Here’s what Orca had to say about the film – “We wanted to create something for halloween and thought about those nightmares you have when you’re running from something and you can’t seem to get away – that was the starting point. For the imagery itself we didn’t take influence from anything in particular, we just started drawing and came up with this monster which we found quite funny/ terrifying. We then filmed video reference for the animation as this is always really useful for timing and capturing acting decisions that you might not think about when drawing. For the background we wanted to continue on this dream/nightmare train of thought and created a barren desolate place where you would always be able to see the monster chasing you.”
Another ghoulishly horrifying project Orca worked on was for a show within a show for the fifth season of the BBC and HBO show “Strike”. The animation is inspired by point and click video games. Perfectly blends Orca’s trademark style with the themes and atmosphere of the programme.
Orca discuss the creative process working on Strike – “At the beginning, the main point of reference was the artwork of Jan Pieńkowski, however as we developed the look further (with production designer Hugo Cuellar) we moved away from pure silhouettes as we wanted to show the character’s expression and all the details of the heart character. The use of shadows, silhouetted shapes against a marbled sky carried through though, which we think works really well. For the video game sections, we looked at video chat games such as Club Penguin and then wondered how they would look with a more gothic twist. It was also important for the plot that we referenced a real section of Highgate Cemetery, which proved a really rich source of inspiration when it came to the types of architecture and foliage we included in the background art.
Working with the client, (Bronte films, the production company that makes the Strike series), was really fun and super collaborative.”
Ed and Nelly shared the films that scared and influenced them. Ed: “I was particularly scarred by Nightmare on Elm Street, which I saw when I was 14. It really stuck with me and I definitely had that in mind when we created our first Halloween microshort.”
Nelly – “The Exorcist is one that really disturbed when I was young (and still does) – it’s so scary, but also grotesque and incredibly uncomfortable to watch. It must have influenced something on a subconscious level!”
In this instalment of the series, head of social and integrated communication at Havas shares her experience of becoming a single mother in a city away from her family, and how building a daily rhythm with her son has helped her grow in her life and career.
Motherhood in advertising has long been an unspoken challenge – a career-defining crossroads where ambition is too often questioned, and support systems fall short. And while the industry has made progress in acknowledging the realities of working parents, tangible change is still slow, leaving many mothers to navigate the journey alone.
In this instalment of Motherland in Adland – the series founded by NERD’s Milana Karaica in partnership with LBB – we hear from Davitha Tiller, head of social and integrated communication at Havas.
Davitha shares her experience of becoming a single mother while leading in one of the industry’s most demanding sectors – with no family nearby, no fallback, and a young son relying on her. What followed was a journey of emotional extremes: fear, liberation, exhaustion, growth. And, ultimately, pride.
From the challenges of raising a child alone in New York City to the structural support of working under strong female leadership, Davitha’s story is one of extraordinary resilience – and a powerful reminder that motherhood, in all its forms, can shape more empathetic, grounded leaders.
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IT WASN’T THE PLAN, BUT IT’S MY PATH.
I will never forget my first official day as a single working mom.
I was standing in the kitchen of the apartment my 11-month-old son and I had just moved into following my difficult separation from his father. After a long day of meetings, pitching and thinking; I had put him to bed, and now it was time to make myself dinner. But before I could so much as reach for a pan, a wave of emotion hit me – an overwhelming cocktail of debilitating fear and exhilarating relief.
There was the fear of the road ahead. The relentless logistics. The loneliness. The unknown. And at the same time, there was this liberating sense of reclaiming control – of knowing that, for better or worse, I was back in the driver’s seat of my own life.
How am I going to do all of this?
The sleepless nights. The childcare arrangements. The all-day meetings. The after-work mom mode. The after-mom-mode work mode. The co-parenting conflicts. The tiredness. The confronting reality of knowing that you’re staring at your greatest support system in the mirror.
And yet – alongside all that – came the longing to be the best mom I could possibly be. To stay healthy, strong and active. To nurture friendships. To make new mom friends. To help my son make his first friends. To sign him up for extracurriculars. To travel the world for work and for fun. To eventually, maybe, date again.
Being an expat single mom in a place like New York City, with no family nearby and a sole custody parenting arrangement, while working a demanding leadership job in our fast-paced industry, is its own level of hard. And being a stubborn Taurean who doesn’t easily accept help certainly didn’t… well, help.
The non-stop nature of it all was terrifying. And, honestly, some days it still is. But even in the darkest moments, I held onto one belief: that eventually, it would get easier. And it did.
To my own surprise, I wouldn’t change a thing about my journey.
Because what I’ve learned is this: just like writing, or riding a bike, once you get the hang of single working mom life, it becomes second nature. And in doing so, it reveals a level of vulnerability and resilience you might never have known you had.
I’ve always been a creature of habit, someone who believes that structure is the antidote to chaos. So I approached life with my son like a military mission – building a daily rhythm so reliable, both he and I could follow it with our eyes closed. That structure became my lifeline. It still carries us through.
And through it all – just as research so often shows about children raised by single mothers – my son has become the most loving, flexible, perceptive, and emotionally intelligent little man. He lights up my life every single day, and together, we make a pretty great team.
And speaking of teams; I am immensely grateful to work for an agency with a strong female leader at the global helm, where offering people the flexibility and support to navigate their personal circumstances isn’t an exception – but the cultural norm.
Over the years, I’ve come to wear my “single mom” title not as a burden, but as a badge of honour.
It wasn’t the plan, but it is my path. It has made me who I am. And today, I can finally say it: I’m proud of her.
NERD Productions are ecstatic to announce that Orca will be joining the roster, bringing with them a vast ocean of creativity and imaginative wonders. The animation studio fronted by creative couple Ed and Nelly are renowned for producing 2D, 3D, mixed-media and motion graphics. Working with huge clients and brands across the years like Netflix, HBO, Disney+, BBC, Sony, Deliveroo, and GQ. Crafting fantastical stories with rich and colourful characters that leave a lasting impression.
A power couple in every sense, united by their love of telling stories, meeting at the NFTS they would go on to collaborate and create together as a force of nature, operating and mastering the art of 2D, 3d animation, mixed media and motion graphics. Crafting innovative commercials, music videos, short films and documentaries, the pair bring their to every project they touch.
Orca on joining NERD Productions – “We’re really delighted to be joining the roster at NERD – we’ve admired the projects being created there for a while now and are thrilled to be represented by a production company that shares our values and approach to the work. The ethos of collaboration at NERD is very much in line with ours too, so we’re incredibly excited to start making things with them.”
“Orca have mastered the art of creating vivid and colourful worlds brimming with charisma and character with a truly whacky and imaginative brand of filmmaking. At NERD Productions we love artists who know how to take their audiences on a journey, so Orca felt like a natural fit for us and we honestly can’t wait to get started. Ed and Nelly are wonderful people who share the same passion for telling distinctive stories as us.” – Milana Karaica, Founder & Producer of NERD Productions.
Take a peek behind the scenes of Ed and Nelly’s creative process and you’ll find it’s super serious work..
Take a dive into Orca’s brilliant body of work here.
Sharon Liu is many things, a talented animation director, music video maker, illustrator and an avid GIF maker. In the latest edition of Getting down and NERDy! We caught up with Sharon to discuss her creative process and her adaptability to shapeshift between different creative mediums.
Everyone loves a good origin story, so let’s start from the beginning. How did you get into animation?
It’s funny that my interest in animation only started on my foundation course at UCA Farnham. I was never really an anime or comics fan when I was a kid. However I’ve always been into painting and during my foundation course I discovered that animation is not just ‘cartoons’, it can be painterly and experimental too. I would say that was the turning point for me.
Over the years Sharon has perfected her animation style and brought her distinctive vision to the world of commercials, working on campaigns for the likes of Boot, The Climate Coalition and RAM Trucks.
The Very Hot Snowman for The Climate Coalition display’s Sharon’s hand-drawn aesthetic in beautiful fashion, giving the piece a storybook quality that pulls on your heartstrings and with the voice talent of a certain Britpop icon the whole thing feels cosy but poignant.
What would you say is the major difference between illustration and animation director?
I guess as an illustrator I can spend more time focusing on the tiniest details, and as an animation director I have to focus on the bigger picture/ overall feel/ narrative. I realised that good animation might not necessarily contain one single frame that would work well as an illustration and a good illustration might not necessarily work as a frame of animation either.
Sharon is also a master of creating mixed media, blending her trademark animation style with live action, which you can see in full swing with her music video ‘Its Like That’ for pop royalty Mariah Carey.
You experiment with many different methods, is there anything you haven’t tried yet that you’d like to explore as an artist?
There are far too many methods I would love to try, I believe anything can be turned into animation under the camera! At the moment I’m trying to figure out a way to animate/control water!
As a fellow avid GIF maker I’d love to know what you like the most about creating GIFs?
GIFs are short and sweet. It’s a documentation of my visual diary and it allows me to play with different materials and explore outside my comfort zone without any pressure.
Do you think GIFs can be used to tell narratives and what do you think it adds to your work?
Same as all other art forms, GIFs can be used to express narratives but a strength of GIFs is their versatility to be used in the digital world, including their ability to show moving images instantly without pressing play! It’s hard to think what GIFs add to my work as GIFs are my work. So instead I would rather say creating GIFs has brought me different kinds of work opportunities, a colourful portfolio and 704 million views on GIPHY.
What kind of creative projects appeal to you the most as a creative?
As I’m getting older and more experienced, working with people that I like is far more appealing to me than the nature of the project. Luckily good people tend to work on good projects too!
Two NERDs Billelis and Luke Preece recently embarked on a demon slaying project for the iconic ‘Doom The Dark Ages’. We recently caught up with the pair to discuss their joint love of video games and how they’ve inspired and influenced their work of the years.
How did the Doom project start?
Luke> Billy approached me earlier in the year and asked if I’d be up for doing another collab on Doom after the success of our previous one. Obviously I said yes. I love making stuff with him.
Were you already a fan of the iconic Doomguy’s demon slaying shenanigans?
Billy> I mean he is a video game icon haha. I remember playing the OG as a kid (without my parents knowing), and had this divine rebellion/inspiration. It is absolute carnage and a release, bashing demons back to hell is a very cathartic experience. So yes you can say I was a huge fan haha.
Luke> Absolutely! I played the original games back in the early ‘90s and have continued to play all of the subsequent titles in the series.
Have you noticed a change in how video games are now marketed and advertised?
Billy> The gaming industry has changed so much,but imo what matters the most is the gamer’s experience and fun. Microtransactions and all that ruin the experience. I game because I want to feel free to explore another realm, to lose myself, to become someone else for those hours. I love my life but also becoming a tanked demon slayer is pretty epic haha.
Luke> Back in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s the only way you’d find out about new games was word of mouth or in magazines. That and watching Gamesmaster on TV… Nowadays the industry is so huge that games are marketed like huge movies. That’s a massive step up so I guess you could say it’s changed quite a lot.
Have video games influenced or shaped your work?
Billy> Oh yes I have a whole leg tattooed with video game characters, I am 37 and still game a lot, and you could say it has been a childhood dream of mine. It’s important as artists to nurture our inner child especially as we get older. I have been very fortunate to do Art with Luke for Doom, and Diablo a few years back on my own, and I’ll never get over the feeling my inner child would get by working on these.
Diablo II work by Billelis
Luke> 100%. I play video games quite a bit and have done since I was very young. That has inevitably sunk into my subconscious and definitely comes out in my work.
Luke’s work for Gears 5
What do you enjoy the most about working on video game briefs?
Billy> Seeing all the incredible concept art and BTS that goes into these games. It’s amazing to put my own twist on these IP’s but I always get giddy and incredibly inspired to see what the artists of these studios have created before me. I feel honoured to put my spin on their creativity.
Luke> Getting to put my stamp on IPs I love. Essentially taking inspiration from the visuals and narrative and bring it together in a unique way whilst remaining relatable to the game.
Do you think video games as an artform are still misunderstood?
Billy> In the past, yes, I feel gaming is a key part of our culture and it truly is an artform. Everything from characters, to design, atmosphere, sound, emotion. Nothing comes close to it imo. You can watch a film and remember it, but I find games become unforgettable experiences, for me at least.
Luke> They used to be. And if I’m honest a video game used to be something you’d pick up and play for 30mins. Modern games are like these big blockbusters or yearly events that happen. It’s kind of crazy when you think about how much it has changed?!
If you could live inside any video game world what would it be?
Billy> As messed up as it would be, I’d love to live inside the Elden Ring.
Luke> Gotta be Zelda. I like the idea of hanging out in Hyrule.
More exciting news from NERD Productions as we add the talents of the imaginative director Helen Ratner. Her unique and quirky body of work weaves between animation, motion design and art direction, using techniques such as rotoscoping, cel animation and collage. She creates surreal imagery that provides plenty of tantalising humour and whimsical energy, working on incredible projects for the likes of Nike, Instagram and Google as well as working for artists such as FKA Twigs, Steven Aoki and El Afna. Her work comes with a stunning colour pallet that feels like spending time on a tropical beach blending vibrancy and style perfectly.
“Every now and then you meet an artist and you instantly want to collaborate with them, their work fills you with so much inspiration and you get a buzz from just listening to them talk. Helen was one of those artists, her filmography and vivid imagination felt like a perfect fit for NERD and we cannot wait to show you more in the near future”- Founder & Producer of NERD Productions.” – Founder/Executive Creative Producer at NERD Productions
Helen on joining the NERD roster – “I’m so excited to be joining the team at NERD Productions Company! NERD has been on my radar for years and what initially drew me in was their clear passion for creativity with purpose. Their commitment to diversity, inclusion, and sustainability isn’t just talk, it feels deeply woven into everything they do. That kind of integrity really resonates with me and I’m thrilled to be part of a studio that champions talented artists, and cares about the impact their work makes.
What’s also exciting is the chance to collaborate with such a talented and diverse group of creatives. NERD’s energy feels fresh, open, and full of heart. I love how their approach to production feels like a shared journey instead of a solo mission. I’m looking forward to bringing my own experience into the mix, growing together, and creating work that’s not only visually exciting but also meaningful.”
In every walk of life and within any job role we all deal with challenges both internally and externally we often tell ourselves not to let our private lives interfere with our work-life, however is it really that black and white? With May being the month of Mental Health Awareness we wanted to have an open and honest conversation about how as individuals we find ways to balance our well-being with our work output. The advertising industry can be a savage and unpredictable environment with tight deadlines, days of endless calls and meetings that sometimes can feel like dead-ends rather than destinations. An emphasis on freelance work can sometimes add extra pressures of long-term stability and career growth, financing projects can become an upward struggle and sometimes the work days can be long, meaning spending less time with our families and friends.
There are no straight answers to this topic and we all do our best to find ways of finding that perfect balance between productivity and relaxation, knowing when to call it a day, knowing when we need to recharge our social battery. We all come from different walks of life, may it be culturally or financially, each of us dealing with our own insecurities or anxieties and as a society we like to pretend that we don’t. We’re programmed to think we have to be perfect all the time but sometimes the flaws are what make us succeed, it’s how we grow and learn.
Thankfully the conversation around mental health is becoming less taboo and more of an open dialogue and In this article we wanted to get involved in the conversation
THE ART OF TRYING NOT TO OVERTHINK – LOUIS HUDSON (WRITER AT NERD)
For me moving to London was the first daunting step into the creative and advertising industry. After staying in Leeds for both of my university degrees I finally decided to kiss goodbye to my affordable rent and family. My first attempt however was compromised by the global pandemic (just my luck) when the time did eventually come to move down. I had a little bit of PTSD from the pandemic. All that time stuck in lockdown, overthinking, would I be good enough, will I fit in. Imposter syndrome rearing its stupid annoying face. Which I think is a universal thing we all go through at some point in life but I think for me it was exemplified by the pandemic suddenly swapping working from home to attending multiple networking events and having to build up a new social life for myself provided a little bit of whiplash.
Coming from a traditional northern working class background I wondered whether or not I would fit in, whether my accent would be patronised or even understood and apart from the couple of occasions I’ve been mistaken for being Scottish I can confirm people can understand me just about…
For me I learnt that giving myself a schedule helped with the anxiety, even something as simple as going for a walk once a day or finding time to do a bit or personal admin would be a way for me to focus my mind. Post pandemic I’ll take myself to the cinema as much as possible because going to see a really depressing foreign romantic drama really makes me feel better about my life. I also write comedy, which is something I’ve continued to pursue since studying film at university. Since moving to London I attend London Comedy Writers and I’m always trying to get projects on the go, so it’s all very exciting but also gives me something to focus on outside of work hours that feels stimulating and creative.
BALANCING CREATIVITY AND PRESSURE – VIKTORIIA (MARKETING & PHOTOGRAPHY AT NERD)
Growing up, I always knew I was meant to do something creative – something that had a spark but also a slice of structure. I’ve always felt a strong drive to perform well in any role I take on, and with that comes pressure. When I moved to the UK, that pressure only intensified, it became about building a whole new life from the ground up. New friendships, new networks, and new opportunities.
Because social media is such a big part of what I do, there’s a constant expectation to be present. Whether it’s about posting the next big idea or simply showing up on people’s feeds, the pressure to stay relevant can be overwhelming. And while I sometimes get hit with that “who cares?” mindset, the reality is every single job or opportunity I’ve had has come from being online, from putting myself out there, from connections made through the digital world.
That’s the double-edged sword of it. While I owe a lot of my career to social media, my mental health often suffers because of it. Imposter syndrome creeps in, feeling like I’m not doing enough, even when I know I’m going above and beyond. Some days, depending on where I am in my cycle or just how much I’ve been carrying, I’ll cry it out. I’ll spiral into “I’m not good enough” thoughts and that’s when I really lean on my husband. He’s my anchor on those tough days. But then, just like that, I bounce back. The very next day I might feel like I can take on the world. I’ve also been incredibly lucky to work with people and clients who are genuinely supportive, and that kind of environment makes a huge difference. The same goes for my friends, just having someone who listens can lift the weight a little.
Being creative in the fast-paced, ever-evolving world means you’re always expected to innovate, stand out, inspire. It’s a lot. But I’ve learned that having a support system and grounding routines can help massively. For me, it’s simple things – going for a walk, spending time in nature, hiking up a mountain. Maybe that’s why I’ve gravitated towards hiking over the past two years, it gives me space to breathe and turns off my loud brain.
At the end of the day, it really is a journey. Some days feel weird, others feel heavy, but there’s always something to learn.
WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP – MARGAUX MADAMBA (SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING AT NERD)
For years, I knew I was struggling with a mental health disorder but there were just so many things hindering me from seeking professional help. I thought if I just got to know myself more that maybe navigating work and life would be easier. I thought that I needed to accept myself more, to be kinder to myself, and to be more patient with myself. I read so many self-help books, listened to my mentors’ advice, and browsed through pages and pages of Reddit and Google threads. A lot of those things helped in their own ways — but it wasn’t enough.
Coming from a third world country, I knew it wouldn’t be easy to seek professional help for my internal struggles. I had assisted my younger sibling in the past with their own mental health problems and searching for psychiatrists, wards, or organizations that could help us was really difficult. We learned one thing that day: If we needed immediate help for our mental health, we were looking in the wrong places AND we were living in the wrong country. It was a very sad realization. Being the eldest daughter meant I’d have to be there every step of the way during my sibling’s own struggles. This was when I was educated deeper about how to properly seek professional help.
Five years after my sibling’s struggles, I finally got the courage to seek help for my own problems. Post-pandemic paved the way for telemedicine or telehealth apps which made it easy for me to book a psychiatrist or psychologist. It was at the age of 28 when I saw my first psychiatrist and was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I was prescribed medicine for my anxiety but after a few months, I felt like I was just an outsider watching my life happen before my eyes. The medicine wasn’t working – and that was okay. During this journey, I learned that there are many methods to seek help and not every method will work for an individual. I didn’t stop trying and experimenting. I looked for another psychiatrist who focused on talk therapy which gave me relief after just one session. I have felt more peace within myself ever since.
As creatives and freelancers, we’re used to working and moving independently. Throughout the years, I got used to working by myself and finding remedies in my own ways. It worked until it didn’t, and I wish I asked for help much sooner – I bet my 22-year-old self needed it a lot. If you’re reading this, I want you to know that it is okay to ask for help – ask for help when you’re afraid, ask for help even when you can’t afford it, ask for help even when you’re succeeding in life. It doesn’t matter where you are or who you are, it will always be the right time to ask for help.
VALUE OF PEOPLE IN OUR LIFE – MILANA KARAICA (FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE CREATIVE PRODUCER AT NERD)
I started in this industry very young – at the age of 17.Through the early years of my career, it didn’t matter to me that I didn’t see women and people like myself around me, as actually, I never really had before either.
Taking inspiration from wherever I could, I excelled in my roles and made my way to executive producer. There were bumps in the road of that journey that were not easy to overcome but when failure is not something you allow yourself to accept, you keep pushing harder with each setback. It wasn’t until I was in my early thirties – by which point I was running NERD Productions, a creative production company bringing diverse talent to our industry – that I started to feel extremely lonely as a female in a leadership role. NERD was my first baby, my family, and my passion, but I wanted a family at home too. Best of both worlds was the goal I wanted to achieve through some miracle it seemed.
With so much going on at all times and hours of the day it is hard to stop to catch a breath, let alone think about your mental health and wellbeing. I try to be practical, and find time to still show up for my young kids where and when needed while doing the same for my team and clients.
Sneaking in some alone time for a quick facial or getting my nails done is my time to simply do nothing. Allowing time with people I love… a coffee with my sister, a quick lunch with a friend, a little time with my forever cheerleader- my partner, even if it’s just a cinema date or a walk in the park. All these seemingly small things and times give me endless positive energy, time to reflect on the life we have built and things we still feel we want to pull off before we are ready to live the quiet life!
So, having said all that, in conclusion – we all need that one person in life or if we are lucky enough, a few of those gems, that will be your source of support, empowerment, inspiration or simply good vibes. This is what really matters and what helps keep me going when times are tough.
Hayley Morris recently teamed up with Mighty Oak, Jigsaw Productions and Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios to create an underwater world for the docuseries OCTOPUS!. Constructing an ocean brimming with character and heart. The series blends live action with flawless stop-motion animation that comes together to create a sense of wonder and discovery. The story follows the eight armed protagonist Doris a Giant Pacific Octopus from babyhood to adulthood in a time spanning adventure.
When designing the puppet for Doris Hayley wanted her to resemble a real octopus but incorporate subtle human traits creating a sense of emotional connectivity with the audience. As per usual Hayley’s puppetry brings a tangibility to the character that translates onto the screen with Doris feeling complex and layered, with every movement pushing the narrative forward. With the surrounding ocean environment also made from the same love and care using a mixture of found objects and hand made materials.
Hayley on creating Doris – “I aimed for her surface to feel rich and tactile, realistic from a distance, yet on closer inspection reveal delicate details like lace and yarn that emphasized her handmade origins.”
Phoebe Waller-Bridge lends her voice to the series bringing her quick witted style of humour to the piece and actor Tracy Morgan makes an appearance which all comes together to tell a compelling informative and incredibly cinematic story of a deep sea alien that lives amongst us.
If you fancy a trip below the waves the show is now available to stream on Amazon Prime and if you want to see more of Hayley’s masterful work then please click here.
