Biography

Rija Yousuf is a production designer, art director, motion and concept artist known for her work on the transcultural experimental dance music film "Sea of Fire" (2026). She plays a pivotal role in the visual storytelling and conceptual development of the Iasonas Psarakis cinematic project, merging traditional aesthetics with contemporary motion graphics.

In "Sea of Fire", Rija worked in tandem with Iasonas Psarakis to co-conceptualize the film’s vision. Serving as the Production Designer and Art Director, she was responsible for the film’s artistic execution and Motion Art, meticulously translating Iasonas’s overarching Visual Design into advanced digital environments, from deep space to elemental realms, seamlessly blending live-action performance with painterly surreal worlds.

Her multidisciplinary reach extends to the music industry and performing arts; she is the visual artist behind the original artwork for Iasi Ensemble’s GRAMMY®-balloted album, "Astris" (2023), including its extensive 12-page artwork booklet. Furthermore, she served as the Assistant Set Designer and created the motion art for the "Tales of Sitar" (2021) performance at the prestigious Apollo Theater in Ermoupolis, Greece, blending digital movement with live musical narrative.

In addition to her career in visual arts and film production, Yousuf is a professionally trained architect. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) from the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi, Pakistan. She further advanced her academic background by completing a Master’s degree in Architecture, Archaeology & Landscape through the prestigious Erasmus Mundus scholarship-funded Joint Masters program. Her graduate studies were hosted by a consortium of four leading European institutions: the National Technical University of Athens (Greece), the University of Naples Federico II (Italy), the Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal), and the Sapienza Università di Roma (Italy).
- IMDb mini biography by: Friends of HiHiRi PiPiRi [US]