Ruka Johnson

Costume Designer

Biography

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 GRIME KIDS for Abdou Cisse & Ian Aryeh, ITV series THE RED KING for Daniel O’Hara, and has recently wrapped on upcoming Amazon series LAZARUS for director Wayne Yip.

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.

Rocks

Blue Story

Bloods

Credits

Drama

Production Company Notes
TIP TOE
TV Series
Quay Street Productions / Channel 4

Dir: Peter Hoar

LAZARUS
TV Series
Quay Street Productions

Dir: Wayne Yip

GET MILLIE BLACK
Episodes 1 & 2
HBO

Dir: Tanya Hamilton

THE RED KING
TV Series
Quay Street Productions

Dir: Daniel O’Hara

GRIME KIDS
Series 1
BBC Three / Mammoth Screen

Dir: Abdou Cisse & Ian Aryeh

THEN YOU RUN
Series 1
Prod Co: Kudos LTD

Dirs: Delyth Thomas & Paul Walker

BLOODS
Series 1
Roughcut

Dir: William Sinclair
Created by Samson Kayo

BLUE STORY
Feature
Blue Story Ltd

Dir: Rapman

ROCKS
Feature
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

ENTERPRICE
Series 2
Fudge Park

Dir: Ella Jones

BRUNO
Feature
Angry Bear / Ipso Facto Productions

Dir: Karl Golden

OBEY
Feature
Beyond Fiction / Harvest Productions

Dir: Jamie Jones

4 STORIES
TV Series
BlackLight TV / Channel 4

Dir: Dionne Edwards, Stella Corradi, Anwar Boulifa

SLICED
TV Series
Dave

Dir: Al Campbell

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

Dir: Louis Lagayette

I AM A KILLER
TV Series
Sky Vision / Netflix

Dir: Various

BBC COMEDY FEEDS
Episode, Ackee & Saltfish
RoughCut Television / BBC Three

Dir: Cecile Emeke

MOST INFAMOUS
TV Series
Sky Divison / Discovery

Dir: Bill Thomas

DOCTORS ON DEATHROW
TV Series
Sky Vision / CBS

Dir: Bill Thomas

Short Films

Production Company Notes
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

Production Company Notes
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

Production Company Notes
SELECTED CREDITS:
CRISIS
2024
Knucklehead

Dir: Hugh Rochfort

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

Recent highlights

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Ruka Johnson
Ruka Johnson
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