Ryan Staake is a director working at the intersection of design, technology, and storytelling.
Raised in St. Louis on MTV and living in the Catskills of NY. His highly visual work is driven by movement, character, and culture. Trained as a graphic designer at RISD and Carnegie Mellon, he began his career on Apple’s Human Interface team, contributing to the iPhone, iPad, and macOS before transitioning into filmmaking.
Staake broke the internet with a no-show on a high‑profile music video shoot that became the film: left with extras, cars, and police, he turned the chaos into a witty, self-aware short that captured the internet’s imagination. The moment crystallized his knack for turning unexpected problems into purposeful, memorable work. He has gone on to create award-winning work for artists including David Bowie, Young Thug, Diplo, Lil Wayne, Major Lazer, J. Cole, and Ed Sheeran. His films have earned multiple Vimeo Staff Picks, UKMVA, MTV VMA, and D&AD honors.
He has also collaborated with global brands including Adidas, Puma, Meta, Samsung, Xbox, Twitch, and Pepsi, bringing a design-driven approach and a knack for turning unexpected challenges into unforgettable work.
Follow him @ryanstaake