Rayan is a Sudanese artist, designer, and educator that combines her research and architectural background to imagine futuristic spaces deeply rooted in Sudan and its diaspora. Her work serves as a speculative exploration of futuristic and fictional spaces that embrace our cultural heritages and resist harmful Euro-centric design principles. She is deeply interested in understanding and interrogating the architectural aesthetics of science-fiction and futurism, and countering it with the production of futuristic visuals that center the everyday human experiences- especially moments that are serene, transient and mundane.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Rayan is also co-founder and director of Space Black, a creative studio of Black built-environment professionals dedicated to challenging conventional norms within the profession and promoting access to built-environment projects through research, outreach programmes, and cultural events. As an educator, Rayan has taught BA Architecture units, as well as guest lectured and guest critiqued for courses in multiple design fields.

Photo by Shams Al-Fekaiki