We spoke with Ross Langley, creator of food mapping app, Tell, about his life, personal style, and career.
I’m an Australian/American mut. I grew up in semi-rural Colorado and moved to Sydney when I was young.
Though I was usually – at least in the traditional sense – a pretty good learner, I had a habit of reclining away from the more “formal” paths of achievement that might be expected of an Aussie private school kid. I ended up in the country’s top fine art school to study film and theatre. I worked for a few years there, then in LA as an actor and writer. I was lucky enough to fulfill a childhood dream of being in a war movie when I was offered a small part in Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t come without the realization that working in entertainment too often requires a ceding of life’s reins to people with an inflated concept of your destiny. So I looked to move again.
After a two month long, Kerouac-esque road trip across the country, I pivoted to the East Coast to explore another side of my brain. I had kept odd-jobs in construction, photography, design, and writing, and slowly started to figure out ways to combine those interests; the order and form of construction, with the creative satisfaction of design and writing seemed to keep pointing me towards UX/UI. I love that in tech, and where we’re at with Tell, many of the rules are defined as we make them. That seems to satisfy the often disparate interests I find myself wandering between.
Jeans: I’m 6’5, so jeans can be a nightmare, but Levi’s 511 Stretch Fit are some of the most versatile, and indestructible jeans I have.
Shirts: Unless it’s wrangler denim and/or a western shirt, it’s hard to spot me in a button-up. I’m all about the Blue Jeans, White T-shirt vibe. Next Level makes a sueded, fitted white crew-neck tee which is damn-near perfect.
Pants: Life/After/Denim Weekend Chino – I have 4 pairs of these. Best fitting pants I’ve ever owned.
Suits: I may not even wear one at my wedding.
Shoes: I have a special bond with my Chippewa Renegade Service Boots.
Accessories: Lots of trucker hats from Elm Company and Tinlid Hat Co. I wear a Luminox P-38 watch, and swap between a pair of Moscot Lemtosh Sunglasses, and Saint Laurent Classic 28s. I also have a Ridge Wallet, which is like a compact card holder with an RFID blocker which is perfectly nerdy and functional.
Outerwear: I’m usually sporting a Flint and Tinder 10-year Pullover Hoodie or a Finisterre Crew Jumper.
Favorite cologne: Does tea tree and cedarwood beard oil count?
Favorite app: Well… My goal with our app, Tell, was obviously to design something I personally would use whenever I needed to find a place to eat or drink. I’m unashamed to boast about that now – it kicks ass. I haven’t used Yelp or any of that rubbish for ages.
Favorite piece of technology: This might be more of an accessory, but it houses so much of my tech, and is such a designer’s dream that I have to mention my backpack. It’s called the Aer Duffel Backpack, it’s made by a startup in SF and I’ve almost bought two just because…
Next style/gear purchase: I’ve had my eye on York Athletic Mfg’s Henry Mid sneaker for months now. I think it’s time to pull the trigger on those kicks.
