About
Dr. Matthew Riley is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Design at RMIT University, specializing in the Master of Animation, Games, and Interactivity (MAGI) program. His research focuses on playful and experimental design, exploring agency, affect, and abstraction in complex systems through interdisciplinary collaborations with cultural institutions, local governments, and industry partners. He co-founded the experimental collective YomeciPlay, producing urban play projects such as outdoor street games and interactive installations. Riley’s work has been showcased internationally at venues like Playable City Melbourne, TarraWarra Museum of Art, and conferences including DiGRA and ISEA. He is a member of the RMIT Future Play Lab and the Academic Board of The MIECAT Institute. His creative practice bridges digital and physical mediums, emphasizing public engagement and ecologies of place.
Education background includes design and contemporary art, with professional experience at Melbourne studio Drome under artists Patricia Piccinini and Peter Hennessey. Teaching responsibilities include Advanced Play Design and Urban Play School, fostering innovative student projects recognized globally. Riley has secured grants from Creative Victoria, Yarra Ranges Council, and others, supporting his interdisciplinary projects. His research examines contemplative play, mixed realities, and the intersection of technology with natural and urban environments.
