Ruka Johnson

Costume Designer

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Heads of Department

Assistant: Lizzie Quinn
Second Assistant: Daniel Kostick

Heads of Department

Costume Designer Ruka Johnson works on internationally acclaimed & award winning feature films, television shows and music videos. Born in London, it was whilst Ruka was studying at the London College of Fashion that she started her own business, hand making accessories and then costumes for burlesque dancers and circus performers.Following Ruka’s innovative entrance into Costume, she first established herself as an apprentice working on global music videos and then as assistant costume designer in television. Ruka went on to design several highly acclaimed short films such as WE LOVE MOSES for Dionne Edwards and 2 SINGLE BEDS featuring Daniel Kaluuya.

In Film, Ruka’s notable credits include the multi-award winning feature ROCKS, directed by Sarah Gavron (Fable Pictures), BLUE STORY, directed by Rapman (Paramount) and OBEY for Jamie Jones. In television, Ruka’s recent credits include recently released British/German thriller THEN YOU RUN for Robbie McKillop and the much anticipated GRIME KIDS for Abdou Cisse & Ian Aryeh. Ruka is currently designing TV show THE RED KING for Daniel O’Hara in Northumberland. 

Ruka continues to work across all creative platforms with music videos including COLDPLAY for Aoife McArdle and SAMPHA for Remi Weekes. Ruka was featured as part of the 2020 UK BAFTA BREAKTHROUGH cohort.

Film

ProductionCompanyNotes

ROCKS

2020

Fable Pictures

Dir: Sarah Gavron
*Premiered at TFF 2019
*Official Selection LFF 2019
Prods: Ameenah Ayub Allen, Faye Ward
*Nominated: Platform Prize, Toronto International Film Festival 2019
*Nominated: Golden Shell, San Sebastián Film Festival 2019

BLUE STORY

2019

Blue Story Ltd

Dir: Rapman

BRUNO

2018

Angry Bear / Ipso Facto Productions

Dir: Karl Golden

OBEY

2018

Beyond Fiction / Harvest Productions

Dir: Jamie Jones

TRENDY

2017

A 6 Foot Barrel / Akronymion Productions / Tesa Productions / Trigger Films

Dir: Louis Lagayette

Television

ProductionCompanyNotes

LAZARUS

2024

Quay Street Productions

Dir: Wayne Yip

THE RED KING

2024

Quay Street Productions

Dir: Daniel O'Hara

GRIME KIDS

2023

BBC Three / Mammoth Screen

Dir: Abdou Cisse & Ian Aryeh

GET MILLIE BLACK
Episodes 1 & 2

2022

HBO

Dir: Tanya Hamilton

THEN YOU RUN

2021

Prod Co: Kudos LTD

Dirs: Delyth Thomas & Paul Walker

BLOODS

2020

Roughcut

Dir: William Sinclair
Created by Samson Kayo

MOST INFAMOUS

2015

Sky Divison / Discovery

Dir: Bill Thomas

ENTERPRICE 2

2019

Fudge Park

Dir: Ella Jones

SLICED

2018

Dave

Dir: Al Campbell

4 STORIES : TELL ME

2018

BlackLight TV / Channel 4

Dir: Dionne Edwards

4 STORIES : THROUGH THE GATES

2018

BlackLight TV / Channel 4

Dir: Stella Corradi

4 STORIES : A MOTHER'S LOVE

2018

BlackLight TV / Channel 4

Dir: Anwar Boulifa

I AM A KILLER

2018

Sky Vision / Netflix

Dir: Various

ACKEE & SALTFISH

2016

RoughCut Television / BBC Three

Dir: Cecile Emeke

DOCTORS ON DEATHROW

2015

Sky Vision / CBS

Dir: Bill Thomas

Short Films

ProductionCompanyNotes

THE ANCESTORS CAME

2017

Comissioned by The Tate Modern

Dir: Cecile Emeke
*The Soul of a Nation Exhibition

MARTYR'S LANE

2017

Ipso Facto Productions / BFI

Dir: Ruth Platt

THE ARRIVAL

2017

Roman Candle Productions

Dir: Annetta Laufer

HAIRCUT

2017

Joi Productions

Dir: K0by Adom

CUT

2017

Askja Films / Bluebird Productions

Dir: Eva Sigurdardottir

WAR PAINT

2017

Diarmuid Hughes

Dir: Nat Luurtsema

MISS

2017

Jeva Films / Creative England

Dir: Drew Pautz

WE LOVE MOSES

2016

Teng Teng Films / Film London

Dir: Dionne Edwards

THE DARK ROOM

2015

Cinema Haydes

Dir: Thomas Hescott

Promos

ProductionCompanyNotes

SELECTED CREDITS:

SAMPHA

2022

Iconoclast

Dir: Remi Weekes

COLDPLAY

2019

Somesuch

Dir: Aoife McArdle

"CHARCOAL BABY" BLOOD ORANGE

2018

Nuuksio Films

Dir: Crack Stevens

"TRIGGER BANG (FEAT. GIGGS) - LILY ALLEN "

2018

Elixir Pictures

Dir: Myles Whittingham

"EARLY THIS MORNING" RICHARD RUSSELL FT. GIGGS

2018

Elixir Pictures

Dir: Myles Whittingham

"GIVE IT YOUR CHOIR" MARK PRITCHARD FT. BIBIO

2017

Compulsory Viewing

Dir: Emmanuel Adjei

"SOMETHING ABOUT YOU" TC4 FT. ARLISSA

2015

The Love Commercial Production Company

Dir: Jon Plant

Commercials

ProductionCompanyNotes

SELECTED CREDITS:

ADIDAS

2019

Bullion

Dir: James Willis

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION "BANTER"

2019

Catsnake Films

Dir: Edward Dark

UNICEF "GENERATIONS"

2017

Catsnake Films

Dir: Edward Dark

VIRGIN TRAINS "VALENTINE'S BRAWL"

2016

Catsnake Films

Dir: Edward Dark

TOBY CARVERY "ROYAL LUNCH"

2016

Alison Jackson Studios

Dir: Alison Jackson

GOOGLE PLAY "LITTLE MOMENTS"

2015

Gramafilm

Dir: Gramafilm

THE BODYSHOP "TREAT MUM LIKE A QUEEN"

2015

Alison Jackson Studios

Dir: Alison Jackson

HEINZ "MR SRIRACHA"

2015

Compulsory Viewing

Dir: Dom & Dario

BATH STORE "THE CHAT"

2014

Hoot Comedy

Dir: Martin Wedderburn