GOOD TALK WITH RORY RYDER

Rory Ryder is a British designer, filmmaker, and educator who through design enjoys solving real-world problems and meeting human needs. Born in Manchester in 1968, Rory's multidisciplinary career has spanned storytelling, art, design, technology, education, and film all driven by his deep curiosity about how we live, and how we might live better.

In 2016, Rory started filming LOST SILVERFISH OF BERLIN, a multi-award-winning documentary filmed over eight years, uncovering forgotten mobile architecture from East Germany between the 1950s and 1980s. The film became the foundation for Silverfish Project an innovative educational project that empowers students to challenge conventional thinking, act with purpose, and design not just as architects or engineers, but as real problem-solvers.

Now collaborating with universities across the UK and beyond, Silverfish Project invites students to imagine and prototype modular, sustainable housing that responds to today's urgent global challenges. Designed to adapt within each institution's framework, the project encourages hands-on learning and prepares architecture and engineering students from theory to practice developing critical thinkers who rise to the challenge of designing real-world solutions.

Expertise
My expertise lies in design, architecture, and storytelling, with over 25 years of experience using creative practice to address real-world challenges. As the director of LOST SILVERFISH OF BERLIN and founder of the Silverfish Project, I’ve spent nearly a decade researching forgotten GDR mobile housing and exploring how it can inform sustainable, human-centered design today. I offer a unique perspective that blends historical insight with future-focused thinking. Students and audiences will gain a deeper understanding of how architecture intersects with politics, community, and activism and how they, too, can become change makers through design.

Speaking History
Over the past 10 years, I’ve spoken with heads of departments, government officials, and leaders of major organizations, sharing insights at national and international conferences on design, housing, and social impact. These experiences have shaped my ability to engage with diverse audiences from students to policymakers through compelling storytelling, grounded research, and real-world application. I bring a clear, inspiring voice to complex topics, helping audiences connect big ideas with practical change.